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  • About
  • Services 
    • Counselling
    • Online Counselling
  • Contact
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    • Services 
      • Counselling
      • Online Counselling
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Journal

  • Counselling

  • Contents

    1. What Is Counselling?
    2. When To Consider Counselling
    3. Signs & symptoms that Might Mean Seeking Counselling
    4. Some Areas Counselling Works With
    5. Some of The Benefits To Counselling
    6. Myths Vs Reality: Understanding Counselling
    7. Confidentiality & Counselling
    8. Counsellor Do's & Donts
    9. Goals in Counselling Sessions
    10. New To Counselling
    11. Frequently Asked Questions
  • What is Counselling?

    Counselling is a supportive process in which you meet with a professional trained in a form of talking therapy to explore areas of your life that may be causing tension, strain, or even distress. Usually, counselling takes place in an indoor setting, such as an office, studio, or a designated space within a counsellor’s residence, offering added comfort for the client. On some occasions, outdoor environments are incorporated into the counselling process, depending on the nature of the work and its appropriateness. With careful consideration of confidentiality, outdoor spaces such as walking areas (also known as walk-and-talk therapy) and other open settings like coffee shops may be used for therapeutic encounters.


    Counselling should not be seen as limited to a single space. The time spent is intended to be uplifting and freeing. The counsellor’s role is to aid and support that process, regardless of the location in which the encounters take place. Ultimately, the space is designed to offer as much room and opportunity as possible to talk about absolutely anything you wish, allowing your mind to go where it needs to—without judgement from the other person, who holds genuine acceptance and positive regard for you as a top priority.


    The counselling space is designed to allow your lived experiences to pass through you freely. Having the space and opportunity to do this may encourage new insights, reflections, and experiences to emerge in your life—insights that you can use in your efforts to build your identity and sense of self. Increased awareness and understanding have the potential to help you gain more confidence and control, and to realise that there may have been things you never imagined yourself capable of achieving—yet you are achieving them.


    Counselling offers the opportunity to show yourself that you are more capable than you once believed, acquiring new skills simply through engaging with the process, often without even realising it. You might find yourself responding in positively different ways to situations, only recognising the change after the interaction has occurred. Counselling is hard work, but it holds every possibility of being just as rewarding and enriching.

    Counselling, whether approached in the short or long term, is intended to be as flexible and adaptable as possible, encouraging an environment in which you have the opportunity to decide how the time is spent. A counsellor’s role is to follow your lead along the road—walking beside you and facilitating your growth as you explore and discover things about yourself that can help you overcome challenges.

    You might have heard that counsellors are trained listeners. However, that’s not all they do. They also draw upon counselling theory to inform their work, applying methods that help you explore more freely—while still maintaining important control and self-awareness. For instance, a counsellor may have received training and gained experience in the area you wish to explore. They bring energy and insight to the process, shedding light on the subject through both professional knowledge and personal understanding. This can help increase your self-awareness and deepen your insight into your situation.


    Counselling supports you in exploring your inner world experiences.This is just one of the many ways a counsellor can assist in your journey. Particularly in the person-centred approach, there is no attempt to impose authority or control. Instead, the counsellor offers their training, experience, and knowledge in service of your growth—never to dominate, but to support.

  • When To Consider Counselling

    Exploring every reason why people seek counselling would be a vast undertaking, they could fill a book—one already exists. It’s called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), a comprehensive guide used by clinicians to diagnose mental health conditions. It outlines every diagnosable disorder, including descriptions, symptoms, and diagnostic criteria. Counselling itself often draws on broader psychological and humanistic frameworks, not just diagnostic manuals.


    Mental health conditions often present in life as signs and symptoms—many of which we might all experience at some point in our daily lives. Feeling low, anxious, or overwhelmed doesn’t necessarily mean you have a diagnosable condition. However, there are two key reasons why counselling might be recommended: If signs and symptoms persist over time. If symptoms become chronic or begin to interfere with daily functioning. Either one—or both—can be a signal that it’s time to speak with a counsellor.


    Here are some everyday things you might notice. It’s usually the drastic change, rather than the condition itself, that prompts concern. For example, if you’re used to getting six hours of sleep (even though more is generally recommended), it’s not necessarily an immediate concern. But if you suddenly drop from six hours to three, that shift might be worth discussing with someone.


    Staying with the same example, sleep needs vary from person to person, and six hours might be what your body naturally settles into. However, a sudden change in sleep patterns—especially if it’s accompanied by other symptoms like fatigue, irritability, or difficulty concentrating—can be a red flag. Mental health professionals often look for changes in functioning as a cue for further assessment.


    Importantly, you don’t need a formal diagnosis to benefitfrom counselling. Many people seek support for stress, life transitions, relationship challenges, or emotional struggles that don’t meet diagnostic criteria. Whether the issue is rooted in a diagnosable condition or simply a difficult period in life, there are real benefits to seeking counselling support in both scenarios.

  • Signs & Symptoms That Might Mean Seeking Counselling

    Seeking counselling is a personal decision, and the reasons for doing so can be as varied as the individuals themselves. Below are just some of the signs and experiences people might notice—gentle prompts that could suggest it’s time to reach out for support

    🧩 Restlessness or agitation

    🧩Sudden triggers of aggression, rage attacks, blackouts, or “seeing red”

    🧩Broken sleep or difficulty falling and staying asleep

    🧩Excessive use of painkillers

    🧩Substance use or dependency

    🧩Persistent anxiety or panic attacks

    🧩Prolonged periods of sadness or low mood

    🧩Feeling overwhelmed by a flood of emotions

    🧩Hearing voices that seem louder or more intrusive than usual

    🧩Difficulty concentrating or maintaining focus

    🧩Physical and emotional symptoms linked to fibromyalgia

    🧩Saying things you’ve been told by others, only to later realise they weren’t real (hallucinations)

    🧩Suicidal thoughts or ideation

    🧩Self Harming

    🧩Struggling to engage in intimacy or connection within relationships

    🧩Constant feelings of guilt

    🧩Inability to get out of bed

    🧩Difficulty waking up or feeling alert

    🧩Feeling disconnected from yourself or experiencing out-of-body sensations

    🧩Persistent fatigue or exhaustion

    🧩Feeling afraid to leave home or go outside

  • Some Areas Counselling Works With

    🧠 Mental Health Conditions

    Some conditions that counselling can help with include:

    • Anxiety Disorder
    • Depression
    • Agoraphobia
    • ADHD
    • Borderline Personality Disorder
    • Eating disorders
    • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
    • Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

    ⚖️ Trauma & Abuse

    These relate to experiences of violence, violation, or psychological trauma:

    • Domestic violence
    • Bullying / harassment / violence
    • Trauma

    💬 Relational & Social Issues

    These involve interpersonal dynamics or social challenges:

    • Relationship issues
    • Sexual relationships / encounters
    • Loneliness
    • Identity
    • Pregnancy
    • Internet & Technology Related Issues

    🧒 Young People & Education

    These are specific to developmental stages or school-related concerns:

    • Bullying
    • School attendance
    • Exam Stress

    🍃 Addiction & Behavioural Challenges

    These involve compulsive behaviours or substance use:

    • Drugs & Alcohol
    • Gambling
    • Rage
    • Workaholism
    • Addiction to Sex
  • Some of The Benefits To Counselling

  • Myths Vs Reality: Understanding Counselling

    Counselling comes in all shapes and sizes. It’s one of the most diverse professions in the world, which is incredible — because people have a choice in how they want their counselling to look and feel. However, there are some assumptions about counselling that seem to have come from many sources. The media is a significant one. I can be the most critical viewer when it comes to watching depictions of counselling settings on TV. One moment I’m jumping up and down with joy because they finally got it right; the next, I’m disappointed that further improvements are still needed.

    Shows like In Treatment portray a psychotherapist to my satisfaction — although, as always, there’s room for improvement. Then there are the more dramatic portrayals: a client smashing the therapist’s car to pieces with a baseball bat. I’m left wondering whether they brought the bat into session, anticipating the moment, and what exactly the therapist did to ignite such frustration and prosecution-level rage.

    In my 13 years of practice, I’ve never once had someone angry with me to that extent — in or out of the counselling room. Or maybe they were, and they just didn’t know where I parked my car. (Although, good communication has meant it never even becoming an issue...)

    There are myths circulating about counselling that might be useful to know. They can help you reflect on your expectations of therapy and what it can do for you — before you enter therapy — so that you can explore them with your counsellor in more detail when you meet.

  • 📚Common Counselling Myths

    Clients mostly lie down on a sofa to have therapy

    Counsellors Say ".. and how does that make you feel?" a lot

    Counsellors possess notepads and write as you talk

    Weak people need counselling

  • Confidentiality in Counselling

    Confidentiality is one of the most important components of counselling. It allows someone to feel safe enough to speak freely, without having to worry or second-guess whether what they’ve said might get back to someone else—or be used against them at any point.

    Confidentiality is a professional term that means, under only the most extreme circumstances, a practitioner may share something that has been spoken about. The practitioner has a duty to uphold this commitment for the sake of your trust and the relationship you have with them. This means that nobody outside of that relationship should be privy to what’s shared. That commitment requires more than just reassurances—it calls for a genuine, felt sense of trust.

    There may have been times when you trusted someone, only to find that they broke your trust. Sadly, this can happen even with professionals.

    The reasons for disclosure might be justified or unjustified. But if you’ve been deeply affected by someone sharing personal information without your consent, you may be left feeling that it was not acceptable—perhaps even finding that it impacts future relationships, both personally and professionally.

    In counselling, trust is typically built over time. Counsellors generally refer to confidentiality at the beginning of the process to assure clients that whatever is shared remains protected. A professional who shares information about you around a dinner table and believes it’s acceptable simply because no names were used is not what confidentiality means or how it's supposed to work! From both a moral and legal standpoint, they have broken your confidence by sharing unnecessarily. Confidentiality means nobody. No “ifs,” no “buts,” not even “if there was no chance of you finding out.” What kind of relationship would that be promoting?

    🔐 When Confidentiality Must Be Extended

    There are a few instances when confidentiality must be extended, and in most cases, this is due to legal obligations or to protect you or others if there is any form of immediate risk. Here is some clarity on the exceptions in the UK:

    • If you or someone else is at immediate risk of harm
    • If anything disclosed falls within the scope of the Children Act
    • If anything shared is considered a serious crime—this may include money laundering, terrorism, drug trafficking, or serious driving offences

    🌿Confidentiality In Counselling Supervision

    In addition to these legal exceptions, counsellors may also speak about aspects of their work with a counselling supervisor. The supervisor is another professional they meet with regularly to explore how they are doing in relation to their work. It’s more like counselling for counsellors.

    This process involves less about the client’s content directly and more about the counsellor’s emotional responses and reflections on the work. In these conversations, any information that might personally identify a client is excluded, and if necessary, pseudonyms are used to protect anonymity.

  • Counsellor Do's & Dont's

  • Goals in Counselling Sessions

    Goals are often seen as a vital component of the counselling process. Having a specific goal—or even a general sense of direction—at the start of our sessions can help shape your therapeutic journey, offering clarity and focus as we work together. Much of the personal growth that occurs in counselling happens both within and beyond the sessions themselves.

    That said, you don’t need to arrive with a clearly defined goal to benefit from our time together. Many people come to counselling to explore what matters most to them, while others may prefer to reflect on their experiences without setting specific objectives. Both approaches are entirely valid and can lead to meaningful insight and progress.

    Whether you're working toward something specific or simply seeking space to think and feel more freely, our sessions are here to support that process—at your pace, and in a way that feels right for you

  • New To Counselling?

    Beginning therapy can be a unique experience for each individual, and it's important to recognise that many first-time attendees may feel apprehensive or anxious. Counsellors understand that taking the step to seek counselling can be challenging, and they are committed to making the process as welcoming and comfortable as possible.


    Once you've identified a counsellor you feel comfortable working with, the first step is to reach out. Counsellors typically list their preferred contact methods in the contact section of their website.

    A good starting point is to introduce yourself and share what has led you to seek counselling services. This helps the counsellor understand your needs and determine how they can best support you.


    Your initial message is also an excellent opportunity to ask any questions you may have about the counselling process. If both you and the counselor agree to proceed with a first session, arrangements will be made for an initial meeting, often referred to as a "welcome meeting." The first official counseling session usually follows this welcome meeting.


    After scheduling the welcome meeting, the counsellor will likely send additional information via email or message, including practical details such as their address, payment information, or a video link for online sessions

    💬The First Session

    The first counselling session typically follows a similar format to the welcome meeting and lasts up to an hour. During this time, you are encouraged to discuss anything you wish. This is your opportunity to share your thoughts, feelings, and concerns in a supportive and non-judgmental environment.

    Here are some topics that might be covered during your first counselling session:

    Introduction to the counselling space

    • Exploring confidentiality
    • Discussing what has brought you to seek counselling
    • Identifying your goals
    • Understanding your expectations
    • Addressing any special arrangements or adjustments
  • FAQs

    How Do I Know If I Need Counselling?

    How Do I Start Counselling Sessions?

    How Many Sessions Will I Need?

    Can I Have More Than One Session Per Week?

    Are Sessions Confidential?

    Do My Parents Have To Know That I'm Having Counselling

    Why Is a Session 50 Minutes?

    Can Counsellors Write Notes Like Doctors Do?

    How Impactful is One Counselling Session Per Week?

    Can I Have 2 Forms of Counselling at The Same Time?

    Are Counsellors and Therapists The Same Thing?

    Does My Doctor Need To Be Informed About Me Having Counselling Sessions?

    What is Online Counselling?

    Can I Have More Than An Hour ?

    Do Counsellors Need To Be Qualified and How Qualified Are They?

    Can I Refer Someone To Counselling If I Am Worried About Them?

    Can I Have A Break From Counselling?

Benjamin J Wright

Dip.co.NCPS (Accredited), BSc

NCPS Registration No. NCS22-00211

Wright Counselling & Supervision Service (WCSS) Copyright© 2025

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