A counsellor is a trained, objective professional with whom you can build a healing and trusting relationship. They are trained to offer different types of assistance; most frequently talk-based styles of therapy.

Counselling is a process of talking about and working through your personal problems with a counsellor. The counsellor helps you to address your problems in a positive way by helping you to clarify the issues, explore options, develop strategies and increase self-awareness. For some people, just the process of telling their story to a counsellor, and being listened to, is helpful.

A trained counsellor is someone trained to offer a talk-based therapy. There are many types of talk-based therapy. A counsellor may work in partnership with a medical doctor or other health professionals at times to give comprehensive and integrated care.

Counselling provides confidential support. This means that everything you discuss with the counsellor is private, between you and the counsellor. The exception is when a counsellor has a duty of care to report something that threatens your wellbeing or the wellbeing of others. This legal requirement will be explained to you in your first counselling session.

There are many different types of counselling and approaches that CPH&P counsellors use will vary …Narrative therapy, Cognitive Behaviour therapy (CBT); Acceptance Commitment therapy (ACT); Mindfulness practices and Meditation; Somatic experiencing to regulate the nervous system; and Breathwork, are all on offer, depending on the counsellor.

Common reasons people seek counselling

Anyone who is struggling with a personal concern can seek counselling. No issue is too big or too small to ask for support. Common issues that people seek counselling for include:

• grief and loss

• communication and relationships issues

• work and career issues

• stress, anxiety and depression

• life transitions such as the birth of a new baby, separation, divorce or the death of a family member or friend

• parenting

• addiction

• abuse

• trauma

• self-esteem difficulties

• exploring gender identity and/or sexuality

Professional qualifications of a counsellor

Do not assume that all counsellors are professionally qualified. There is no law in Australia that requires a person who provides a counselling service to have either qualifications or experience. This means that people without training or skills can call themselves counsellors or psychotherapists.

• A trained counsellor has usually spent three or more years studying counselling at university, often at postgraduate level, or has an equivalent level of training in another accredited higher education institution.

• There are 2 peak bodies that provide national standards for psychotherapists or counsellors in Australia – the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) and the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA).

• Rest assured that all CPH&P Counsellors are fully qualified, very experienced in their craft, and are registered with ACA and/or PACFA..

• It is important that you commence with a counsellor with the appropriate training and experience who suits you and your needs, and with whom you feel comfortable.

Bridget and Stacey are here to help!