Counselling is a short term psychological intervention focused on finding ways out of difficult situations, reducing distress and regaining emotional stability.
Often in talking through problems, some distress lifts. The intention in counselling is not to resolve all problems, but to complete enough of a “chunk” of psychological work to make a difference. Counselling offers:
- Emotional support and debriefing
- Identifying key internal and external supports
- Psychoeducation, i.e., information about what is commonly known about the experiences of others with similar concerns
- Cognitive behavioural techniques for combating self-criticism
- Emotional skills training
- Identifying the key challenges that need to be faced for change to occur
Typically, the first 1-3 counselling sessions involve talking about what is happening in the person’s life – an assessment – including what is emotionally and psychologically happening now, and the important points of their history. After a discussion of what the client would like to get out of sessions, I aim to offer my suggestions about what psychological treatment may look like, so that the person can decide whether to continue in counselling or therapy.