Finding the right counsellor for you….
Making the decision to start seeing a counsellor is an important step in taking control of what is happening or holding you back in your life.
I know it can be scary and daunting going to see a counsellor for the first time.
When we are used to hiding our feelings, it makes it even harder to open up. This is why it is so important that you find the right counsellor for you.
There are lots of reasons that people avoid seeking help. There is the stigma that is associated with mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression. If we have a physical medical issue, we will go to see our GP but for some people it is much more difficult to seek help for emotional reasons. Some people may feel that going to a counsellor makes them weak and they should be strong. For some they feel like it is almost selfish as they are not used to looking after their own needs. Is that you?
The cost of counselling is another barrier for people to get over. There is counselling available on the NHS and you can access this through your GP. However, unfortunately there is often a long waiting list and it is usually time limited.
There are charities and organisations that offer counselling and emotional help. Some to these organisations include:
· Cruse Bereavement Care
· Rape Crisis.org.uk
· Relate.org.uk
· Samaritans
· Victim Support
You can also google search your local area for charities or organisations that may offer counselling either free or at a low cost.
You can also access counselling through an employer if they have an “Employee Assistance Programme”. Once again this is normally time-limited but is another option.
Sometimes finding a counsellor that works in Private Practice is the fastest way to get the emotional support that you need. Some counsellor's do offer reduced rates or concessions. If you decide to go down this route then here are some important things to consider when deciding on a counsellor.
Firstly, it is important to do your homework. When you are looking for a counsellor there are certain things that you will need to make sure of before you make that first appointment.
The counsellor you chose should be qualified and registered showing that they meet (PSA) professional standards. You can check this on the organisation that they are members of such as BACP.
You will be entering into a relationship. Therefore, it is important that you chose a counsellor that you feel able to open up to. You will know yourself if you do not connect to or trust someone, you are not going to open up to them. Therefore, if you do not connect with your counsellor you will not feel comfortable to talk to them about your problems.
Below is a checklist of some top tips when choosing a counsellor:
- Do your research. Make sure the person you pick is qualified and registered and therefore meets PSA Professional Standards.
- Research has found that the most important factor in the success of counselling is the relationship you build with your counsellor. Therefore, you do not have to go for the counsellor with the most qualifications or the most expensive as it is the relationship you build that is the most important
- Think about what it is you want to achieve from counselling and look for counsellors that have worked with the issues you are experiencing.
- Look through some profiles and go with your gut instinct when picking the ones to put on your short-list.
- Some counsellors will offer a free first session or a short consultation session so you can get a feel of how it would be to work with them.
- If you do not feel happy with the counsellor you have chosen then move on to someone else.
I wish you well in finding the right counsellor for you. Bottling up your feelings never works in the long run. Feelings need to be expressed and you can do this with a counsellor you trust. If you would like to read more about bottling up feelings please click here. Are you Bottling up your Feelings?
If you would like to have a chat about counselling please either call me on 07780 706701 or send an email to info@philomenacounselling .co.uk