CHOOSING A COUNSELLOR
The counsellor are often registered members of a professional body, and should work to a Code of practice and also have complaints procedure. Most counsellor's are found through word of mouth, local phone book and professional organisations.

A counsellor will be someone who encourages you to talk and to think through situations and help you find solutions or ways of coping in times of distress.

The counsellor will be someone who you can talk about all your feelings even the ones that feel odd or unreal to you and those things that you would not share with others.

The Counselling relationship allows for this as the counsellor offers trust, understanding and will not judge you.

Counselling does not give you advice, nor will they tell you what to do, but will help you to look at your life in a safe environment so you can decide what is it that is best.

The counsellor believes that the Client knows best. The counsellor will also explain the approach they work from so you can decide if its what you require. Qualities a counsellor should have are personal integrity, genuineness, warmth and responsiveness.  

 Consider the following:
1. Have they the necessary experience and personal qualities that you would want from a counsellor?

2. Do they adhere to a recognised professional code of conduct?

3. Is there a complaints procedure or system of redress if they break that code?

WHAT IS COUNSELLING, HOW CAN IT HELP ME?
The aim of Counselling is to help you, not advice you or tell you what to do. Counselling is a process which can sometimes bring a discovery of awareness and self.

Counselling can help make changes in your life, make sense of your world, identify areas to work on, support you during the change and feelings leaving you better equipped and able to cope in the future.

Counselling is not a miracle cure for all your problems it does not promise or have a magic wand. Counselling may help you cope with the problem and see things in a new light. There is nobody who doesn't have problems this is life and part of being human.

There are three main schools of thought in Counselling they are Humanistic, Psychodynamics and Cognitive behavioural. Within each area there are several theories each unique and as varied as the counsellor and the client themselves.

Counselling is not a miracle cure for all your problems it does not promise or have a magic wand. Counselling may help you cope with the problem and see things in a new light.

There is nobody who doesn't have problems this is life and part of being human.