Counselling is a process that enables the client to express their feelings and challenges without judgement. It is a more formal and structured interaction than a casual conversation with friends or family and it often focuses on achieving specific goals. Counselling can help people deal with issues relating to work, relationships and mental health. It is different to psychiatric treatment which aims to identify and treat mental health problems with medication.
The first step is establishing a warm relation and mutual trust. The counselor makes you feel comfortable enough to talk about the issue and will also ask you why you are seeking counseling. This is important as it will allow them to understand the problem better and provide effective counselling.
During the assessment phase the counsellor will observe your behaviour and try to grab as much information about the issue as possible. This can include a clinical interview, standardized tests, self-report questionnaires and psychological measurement devices.
The goal of this stage is to set an appropriate and achievable goal that will lead to positive change. This varies depending on the counsellor and the approach used. For example, Jenny worked with her counselor to explore irrational beliefs about herself and replace them with more rational ones. This allowed her to regain control over her life and end counselling feeling empowered. All counselling is confidential and your therapist will not share any information about your session with anyone unless they are required by law to do so for your safety. https://stony-stratford.trusted-coaching.co.uk/managing-stress/