What is Counselling?

A certain air of mystery surrounds therapeutic sessions like counselling. Many people believe this form of one-to-one therapy will leave them feeling exposed and uncomfortable; whilst others assume confidentiality will not be strictly maintained. There are however, strict guidelines that a counsellor must adhere to at all times.

Counselling is a contractual arrangement between a qualified counsellor and a client who meet in privacy, safety and confidence, to explore distress you may be experiencing. This may be anything difficult, painful or confusing; your dissatisfaction with life; or your loss of a sense of direction, purpose or meaning.

Counselling is always undertaken at your request and no-one should ever be ’sent’. There are many situations these days where people with influence in our lives (perhaps a spouse, relative, friend, manager at work, or teacher) who may suggest counselling as a solution to a problem. This should be offered without any pressure or strings attached.

Usually people come to counselling when they are in distress – and so the ‘type’ of therapy used by the counsellor is often overlooked. As in all situations, there is more than one way of dealing with issues and counselling is no different. In the process of counselling, we will engage in a form of psychological or talking therapy that offers you a professional and safe place to explore personal positive growth and constructive change. With greater self-awareness and trust in yourself, we hope that you will be able to change how you feel, improve your psychological wellbeing and to live a full and meaningful life.

At the Midlands Counselling Clinic we will help you to make decisions but we won’t tell you what to do. If that is what you want, you need to look for some other type of help, such as information and advice agencies, telephone helplines and support or self-help groups. Counselling is not like going to a doctor to be ‘cured’. We won’t judge you, prescribe a wonder/miracle cure for your problem or give you advice (but will help and encourage you to rely on your own instincts and resources).