 |
           |
 About Counselling
Counselling offers what is, for many people, the unique experience
of being actively listened to while they explore a difficulty
they may be having, distress they may be experiencing, or dissatisfaction
they may be feeling in their lives.
Most of us experience passive listening from those around us – even well-meaning family and
friends – when we try to talk to them: they may frequently interrupt
us or continue with some other activity and not really give us
their full attention. Or they may become embarrassed, upset or
angry in response to what they hear. Any of these responses inhibits
us and frustrates us further, and prevents us from resolving our
problems.
When we visit a professionally trained, impartial counsellor and
experience active listening on the other hand, we have the counsellor’s full attention
and genuine interest and this, combined with their warmth and
non-judgemental acceptance of whatever they hear (and the assurance
of complete confidentiality) enables us explore our thoughts and
feelings freely.
Counselling is not about solving another’s problems for them,
or telling them what to do. A counsellor helps people regain faith
in themselves, hope in life, confidence and self-approval and
supports them to work out what they need to do for themselves.
To help this process a counsellor provides a safe environment,
free from distractions, in which a person can explore their emotions.
Feelings which may be acting as a barrier to a person’s clear
thinking e.g. guilt, fear or anger can be acknowledged and explored
so that the person can regain positive control of their life.
Counselling can be used as a short-term aid to a specific problem
in which case a few sessions may be sufficient (sessions last
from 50 minutes to one hour). Alternatively, counselling can be
used as a source of ongoing, regular support for several months
as people work through a major life crisis such as bereavement
or divorce, or address issues originating in their past, such
as abuse, which may be preventing them from living fully in the
present.
For further information please see our FAQ page
|
|
|
|
|
