How to Find a Counsellor That’s Right for You
I love to see clients beginning to feel comfortable in my counselling room, this process can take time, and that’s completely normal.
It can be really difficult for someone to recognise that they need help. Sometimes people choose to reach out to a few different counsellors and that’s absolutely fine. It’s so important to find someone who is the ‘right fit’ for you.
What do I Mean by the Right Fit?
Sometimes clients know exactly what support they need, such as dealing with bereavement, or a loss in confidence. Others might feel that things aren’t quite right, but don’t know what the problem is.
Then begins the search to find a counsellor, this can be via a professional listing or they may google ‘counselling near me.’
There are many ways to begin to narrow down the search, these may include:
Gender (you may have a preference for working with someone of a particular gender)
Age
Budget (fees do vary and counsellors sometimes offer concessionary rates)
Location
In person or remote sessions (you may prefer face to face, or perhaps online or telephone sessions would be more convenient)
Areas of interest/training (you may choose someone who is experienced in bereavement counselling for example)
There is another factor at play too.
Being human we sometimes have a ‘gut feeling’ about who we might want to work with (and who we don’t!), so it’s important to consider, out of those counsellors you have shortlisted, do you feel drawn to any in particular?
What happens next
Every counsellor has their own way of working once they have received an enquiry.
I offer a telephone call so I can introduce myself and you can tell me a little about how you are feeling and the reasons you would like to come to counselling.
I find these conversations really useful as we can begin to get to know each other and it helps to hear each other's voices.
The call gives you a chance to ask me questions about the way I work too, and between us we can decide if we think we could work well together.
Feeling Safe
I want you to feel safe in our sessions and trust takes time to build. Having trust in your counsellor is so important, as it will enable you to be yourself and to feel confident in sharing your thoughts and fears as well as your hopes and dreams.
I love it when my clients feel comfortable enough to kick off their shoes and get comfy before our session begins.
I’ll always remember one lovely client I worked with who said that ‘walking into the room is like getting a big hug’.