The right counselling can make tremendous improvements to your life and getting the right counselling at the right time is very important to mental wellbeing. Finding the right counselling is not always easy though.
Do I need Counselling
It is not always easy to understand your needs, though you have taken the first step and identified you need help.
The main objective of professional counselling is to help you manage your issues and provide therapy towards addressing and overcoming your issues.
Counselling offers you space and time to talk about your feelings in a safe, non-judgmental and confidential setting.
They will give you advice and guidance in a structured manner through coping mechanisms, tasks and objectives to complete between sessions.
A professional counsellor can help you learn to understand and accept your feelings, rebuild self-esteem and help you become the person you want to be.
In many cases professional counselling comes with a fee, though it may be available through various charities for free.
What is Peer Support
Counselling is usually provided by a qualified professional counsellor or therapist and they may specialise in a particular field such as bereavement, anxiety, sleep.
Peer support is an alternative form of help, provided by people who can offer knowledge, experience, emotional, social or practical help on a reciprocal basis.
It can be from “lending an ear” to sharing stories of similar situations, and discussing coping mechanisms that helped.
It may be you just want to talk your situation through with others who have experienced it, to know the people you are speaking with have been through what you have.
In many cases peer support is free, offered through websites, forums, community halls. See our list of peer support groups.
Peer support groupsThe Right Counselling
There are many different areas of counselling and finding the right counsellor or therapist is essential to a good outcome.
Understanding the help you need makes it easier to get the right counsellor.
Tips on finding the right counsellor
- Identify your needs
- Use only qualified counsellors
- Look for a local counsellor you can meet with in person
Have a Budget
When you are looking for a counsellor have in mind a budget you can afford. If you do not have a budget you can contact charities that may offer the services you require.
Be aware that charities are currently inundated with counselling requests and you may have a 3+ months waiting time.
Can Work Help
Your employer may be able to help with your counselling costs, in fact in most cases it is of benefit for your employer to help you – See Here – for a document on the benefits to your employer.
