LETS TALK ABOUT IT

Let’s Talk About It

More of us are open to the idea of seeking counselling to help us cope when life becomes complicated.

We go to the gym to feel good physically and we have massages to feel good holistically, so counselling can be thought of as a sort of ‘mind massage’, giving you the opportunity to let your words and emotions out without being judged. The number of people accessing mental health services has risen steadily in recent years, yet not everyone will use NHS services. You might decide to go private for a number of reasons – there may be a waiting list or a lack of availability in your area, for example. “I started off by having counselling under the NHS, but this meant I couldn’t choose my counsellor. I didn’t really get on with her, and I wasn’t able to select what type of counselling therapy she followed,” said Samantha. “I decided that it was better to go down the private route.”

Taking control of your life

Counselling can help you when you’re struggling to cope, whether it’s for depression, stress and anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, borderline personality disorder, eating disorders, drug or alcohol misuse, bereavement, sexuality issues, or post-traumatic disorder, and there are many different types of counselling therapies. There’s no shame in seeking further help; instead of seeing it as a weakness, it can be the first step towards taking control of your life and finding new strength, especially if you feel you have nobody close to confide in. A counsellor won’t tell you what choices to make or offer you specific advice, but they will guide you and help you understand why you may be feeling a certain way. Your first visit will give you and your therapist the opportunity to decide if you feel comfortable with each other and to talk about what you want to achieve from the sessions. Some sessions can even take place online, for example using Skype for video calls.

What makes a good counsellor?

A good counsellor should not judge or criticise you, but instead will focus on what you are saying to help you deal with your problems. If you feel that things aren’t going the way you want them to, then you should discuss this with your counsellor to see if anything can be improved before going to a new one. Regular sessions are also a good idea so that you can start to see a difference. All counsellors are required to have supervision and counselling themselves as part of their training.

Payments and accreditation

Fees can differ depending on the experience of the counsellor and the number of sessions you commit to. Ensure that any health professional you go with is registered and approved. If you can’t afford private therapy, then it’s important not to try and deal with things on your own. Your GP can talk to you about other options available, as well as letting you know about free talking therapies from charities or voluntary organisations.

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