Counselling
Friday 12 March 2010
Counsellors are there to help when you need support or someone to talk to.
Talk it out
When something is bothering you, the best thing to do is talk about it. Sometimes however, your friends and family can’t give you the support you need – that’s where counsellors come in.
Counselling is a type of talking therapy. It gives you the chance to share your feelings about anything that is having a negative impact on your life – like stress at school, problems at home, trouble at work or issues with your mates.
Counsellors act like a support system. They encourage you to make positive changes in your life and help you understand your problems better. This way you can face your issues head on.
Types of counsellors
There are many different types of counsellors, each with their own way of approaching things. Their approach usually depends on their training and the needs and interests of the person they are dealing with.
Young people
Counsellors who work with young people posses really good listening skills. If you've got behavioural difficulties or lack of confidence, or if you're going through bereavement or bullying, then a counsellor can hep. They may ask you to do some creative activities, like role play or drama, to keep you feeling positive.
Substance abuse
Smoking, alcohol and drugs are all highly addictive. If you're dependant on these substances then a counsellor can help you dig to the route of the problem. They can aid you in understanding your dependency better too. Sometimes the counsellor will ask to speak to your family to discuss how your problem has affected them.
Workplace
Approximately 415,000 Brits believed they had experienced some sort of work-related stress between 2008 and 2009.
If you're feeling down or stressed because you've got a massive workload then a counsellor could help you deal with it. Or if you're experiencing conflicts, bullying or poor conditions then they can help you come up with positive ways to resolve them.
Anger management
Anger is a normal human emotion, but sometimes it can spin out of control. If you experience this often then contact a counsellor who can help you understand your outbursts and how they affect the people around you.
Find a counsellor
If you need someone to talk to then visit Counselling Directory. The site also has a useful FAQ section that will answer all your questions.
If you don’t want to meet a counsellor face-to-face then visit ChildLine. You can talk to an advisor on the phone, on online messenger or by text. Watch this video.
Could you be a counsellor?
Are you good at:-
- Keeping secrets - counsellors work in confidence.
- Listening - all counsellors must be really observant.
- Relationships - counsellors need to understand how to make relationships work.
- Coping with difficult situations - counsellors meet people with all sorts of difficulties. Sometimes this can be emotionally draining.
Career path
If you’re interested in becoming a counsellor then you will need to complete a pre-entry qualification. This could be a taster course or a diploma in counselling. You can get more information on these courses from the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). An undergraduate degree in something like psychology, social work, social studies or nursing would be useful too. Or you could kick start your career by studying psychology or sociology at GCSE or A Level.
Life experience can be just as beneficial. If you can demonstrate understanding and good observational skills then you’re still in luck. Find out more here.
