How To Find A Counsellor

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I think I need to have some counselling, what do I do next?

by Vicky Coomber MBACP

At some point in most peoples’ lives, we feel the need to speak to someone, someone outside of our family or friendship group. Someone who is not going to judge us but someone who will listen to what we have to say. When we get to this point, what do we do next?

Many people are able to recognise a need in themselves, but often do not know how to fulfill it. It can be a daunting process looking for a counsellor, hopefully I will be able to alleviate some worries and show you a way of finding a counsellor that will be helpful to you.

I often get asked by my own family members and friends the same question ‘I know someone who wants to have counselling, how would you find a counsellor?’.

Word of mouth is quite often the way that many people find their counsellor, but equally it can be a taboo subject within family and friendship groups, so this may not be possible.

Many counsellors will offer a first session at a reduced price or even free

If this is the case, I would suggest visiting www.bacp.co.uk, this is the website for the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, a governing body for counsellors. The counsellors that are registered on this website follow the codes and ethics that the BACP recommend, which means that they subscribe to practising in a safe and ethical way. As well as being able to find a counsellor in your local area through this website, you are also able to find out more about counselling and the different types of therapy available. On the homepage for the website, there is a button ‘find a therapist’ click on that and then you will see ‘what is therapy?’, ‘FAQ’s’ and there is also a search facility to find a local therapist or counsellor. The information on here will hopefully answer the questions you may have. 

You are now at the point of having found a potential counsellor and you need to make contact. Most counsellors will either have phone numbers to call and/or email addresses, contacting via either of these is acceptable.

This first contact is a chance to ask any questions you may have and to agree a time and place to have the first session. Many counsellors will offer a first session at a reduced price or even free – it is always worth asking the question when you make contact with a counsellor.

the basis for any therapy is the relationship between you and the counsellor you are seeing

When I meet someone for the first time, I will often suggest that we agree to two sessions to begin with, as I feel it is difficult to know whether you can work together or not after an hours appointment. This is only a suggestion and ultimately always the clients choice.

I think what can often happen is that an appointment is made to see a counsellor, you go along for the first session and come away feeling unsure or even knowing straight away that you won’t get on with that counsellor.

I believe that the basis for any therapy is the relationship between you and the counsellor you are seeing, if that does not feel right, it is possible that it won’t be helpful for you.

So, you have seen a counsellor once, come away feeling unsure, what do you do next?

Unfortunately, lots of people will stop the process there and not have any more sessions and not look to see another counsellor. I would encourage you to speak with the counsellor that your saw, about how you are feeling about the session, remember that it can take a few sessions to feel some level of ease with someone new, so it may be worth seeing them a second time to be sure. Failing both of those options, try another counsellor! It can take seeing a few counsellors before you find one that you feel is right for you.

Woolpit Complementary is home to myself, Vicky Coomber and two other counsellors at present: Gill Harvey and Eve Johnstone.

If you would like to speak to us, please follow the links to our respective pages and do not hesitate to call or email with any questions you may have.

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