All forms of psychological therapy can be called counselling, ranging from simple supportive listening to complex therapy. They require a similar array and depth of skills.

In a nutshell, counselling offers clients a confidential secure space in which to confront, change or channel feelings of confusion, grief, rage or depression. The majority of counsellors do not advise or tell you what to do but help you find answers within yourself.

Other counselling services deal with things like addictions, sexual dysfunctions, moral problems or the wish to enhance the meaning of life.

Counselling is NOT a soft option but hard work for all concerned. Therapists challenge assumptions and offer ‘tough love' as well as understanding and kindness. They are ethically required NOT to waste clients' time or money.

There are many different kinds of talking treatment on offer. The broad mainstream comprises:

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Humanistic Therapy (HT)
Psychodynamic Therapy (PT) 

CBT tries to make your thinking more positive and realistic about events. For instance, instead of concluding ‘Nobody likes me' when one relationship breaks down it can really help to say ‘Lots of people still like me'. CBT also recommends ‘changing what you do to change how you feel'. You will usually meet with a therapist for between five and 20, weekly, or fortnightly, sessions. Each session will last between 30 and 60 minutes.

Humanistic therapy covers a wide range of approaches (including 'person-centered', 'gestalt' and 'transpersonal') which aim to heal or enrich your concept of self. The methods are optimistic, tolerant, creative and sometimes spiritual. Most (but not all) humanistic psychological therapies are non-directive. 

Psychodynamic therapy is less ‘directive' than CBT and suggests most problems are laid down in the relationships of early childhood and need analysing and understanding from that perspective. A 'psychoanalytic' therapist expects to explore an important part of the mind largely ignored by CBT - the 'unconscious' - where basic drives and fears hold sway.

The field of counselling, psychology, psychotherapy and psychoanalysis is currently unregulated by law so it is sensible ONLY to contact therapists from a large membership organisation with transparent standards of ethical and accountable practice such as BACP.

Click here for further information on the counselling process