Many people will, at some point in their lives, find themselves in the role of a counsellor without having a true understanding of the concept of counselling or what the role of the professional counsellor entails.

The role of the counsellor is to enable the client to explore many aspects of their life and feelings, by talking openly and freely.  Talking in such a way it is rarely possible with family or friends, who are likely to be emotionally involved and have opinions and biases that may be detrimental to the success of the counselling.  It is important that the counsellor is not emotionally involved with the client and does not become so during counselling sessions.  The counsellor neither judges, nor offers advice. The counsellor gives the client an opportunity to express difficult feelings such as anger, resentment, guilt and fear in a confidential environment.

The counsellor may encourage the client to examine parts of their lives that they may have found difficult or impossible to face before.  There may be some exploration of early childhood experiences in order to throw some light on why an individual reacts or responds in certain ways in given situations. This is often followed by considering ways in which the client may change such behaviours.

Effective counselling reduces confusion, allowing the client to make effective decisions leading to positive changes in their attitude and/or behaviour.  Effective counselling is not advice-giving and is not acting on someone else’s behalf (these are more the roles of a life coach).  The ultimate aim of counselling is to enable the client to make their own choices, reach their own decisions and to act upon them accordingly.

Counselling is:

  • The process that occurs when a client and counsellor set aside time in order to explore difficulties which may include the stressful or emotional feelings of the client.
  • The act of helping the client to see things more clearly, possibly from a different view-point. This can enable the client to focus on feelings, experiences or behaviour, with a goal to facilitating positive change.
  • A relationship of trust.  Confidentiality is paramount to successful counselling.  Professional counsellors will usually explain their policy on confidentiality, they may, however, be required by law to disclose information if they believe that there is a risk to life.

Counselling is Not:

  • Giving advice.
  • Judgmental.
  • Attempting to sort out the problems of the client.
  • Expecting or encouraging a client to behave in a way in which the counselor may have behaved when confronted with a similar problem in their own life.
  • Getting emotionally involved with the client.
  • Looking at a client’s problems from your own perspective, based on your own value system.

Additional Resources:

7 Cups
Connect with caring people for online therapy & counseling. Free, anonymous and confidential online text chat with trained listeners, online therapists & counselors.

Wellin5 BC-based online counselling platform which provides affordable, accessible video counselling via our Canada-wide counselling network at wellin5.ca. We are passionate about helping Canadians connect with highly qualified (masters-level) counselling for life-changing results.

Access CBT
Access CBT UK provides Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Eye movement desensitisation reprocessing (EMDR) in clinics in Liverpool and online from anywhere in the world.

Alma Psicologia (Spanish)
Pilar Solana, Psicóloga Clínica CV-04.650, con 20 años de experiencia en consulta privada presencial y 4 años trabajando online.

Free Psychologist help in Mexico (Spanish and Portugese) If you need free psychological support with trained psychologists, you can ask for guidance or help. These services are free and serve you 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by phone.

BetterHelp
BetterHelp will match you to one of 2,000 licensed therapists. Get feedback, advice and guidance from your counselor. All counselors are licensed, accredited professionals. BetterHelp allows you to connect with them in a safe and private online environment. Anything you share is confidential.

BlahTherapy
Online Therapists. Need to talk? Choose who you’d like to speak.

Breaking Free Online
Breaking Free Online, the award-winning treatment and recovery programme for alcohol and drugs.

CarrieNet
Concierge Therapy practice gives you help when you need it. From wherever you happen to be. My services are ideal for busy professionals or for people who simply want the luxury of having a licensed professional available when it is the most convenient and beneficial.

Counselling Group  (Ottawa)
Experienced therapists that use a range of therapeutic modalities and have been trained to develop strong therapeutic relationships with clients remotely. They will work together with you to develop goals and supports that suit your needs. Online counselling is provided by Registered Social Workers and Registered Psychotherapists that also have specialized training to provide online counselling while using a secure and confidential email platform which was designed for counselling online.

DBT Path
earn DBT skills online in our live (real-time) DBT informed psychoeducational classes. Online DBT Course led by Debbie Corso, B.Sc., Emotional Confidence Guide, DBT Skills Educator, in recovery from BPD and emotionally sensitive and Kathryn C. Holt, LCSW, psychotherapist.

Focus Mental Wellness
Therapy From the Comfort of Your Home.  Online Therapy and Counselling for Canadians. Confidential online counselling with certified Canadian therapists. Easily choose one of our licensed therapists or counsellors for compassionate and effective mental health support.

HelpPRO Suicide Prevention Therapist Finder. (U.S)
The HelpPRO Suicide Prevention Therapist Finder is developed in partnership with major suicide prevention organizations including the Carson J Spencer Foundation, the American Association of Suicidology, the QPR Institute, the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

Learn to Live
If you’re experiencing Social Anxiety we’re here to help.

Online Counselling, Online Therapy and Life Coaching with Paul Parkin (U.K.) The online counselling I provide is a ‘results focused’ online counselling service combining humanistic-existential counselling (person centered) and proven life coaching strategies and tools.

Online Mindfulness Therapy
Mindfulness Therapy teaches you how to control the habitual reactive thinking that feeds your anxiety and depression. Dr. Peter Strong

On the Line (Australia)
On the Line provides 24/7 professional telephone, video and online-chat counselling services to people when and where they need it, regardless of their geography or circumstance. We are experts in men’s mental health, healthy relationships and suicide prevention.

PsychCentral
There are many different ways you can get help for a mental health concern. Psychotherapy is an important option to consider. You can quickly and easily find a good therapist through our Find a Therapist service.

Power of Mind
Power of Mind is a private online counselling service that helps individuals of all ages, of any culture and of any status to be helped, guided and supported through counselling.

Presto Experts
Experts and Tutors available around the clock. Post your needs and we will match you with the right experts.

SupportGroups
SupportGroups.com is a growing online support groups community. Our goal is to bring people together around life’s challenges by providing concise, up-to-date information and a meeting place for individuals, their friends and families, and professionals who offer pathways to help.

Slater and Associates
Canadian counsellors & therapists offering online mental health support in the following areas of focus: Anxiety, Family issues, Depression, Grief & Loss, Relationships, Perinatal Mental Health, Mental Health in the Workplace

Talk to a Therapist Online
Now you can meet with a psychotherapist for personal counseling or advice, from the privacy of your own computer.  Using the Internet, professional counselors are forming effective helping relationships with people like you.

Therapieland (Dutch)
Therapieland onderscheidt zich van andere e- Health aanbieders, omdat wij onze modules ontwikkelen vanuit de behoeften van de cliënt. Daarom heeft ons platform ook een moderne, sociale media-achtige look-and-feel, waardoor Therapieland zeer toegankelijk en prettig  om mee te werken is.

TherapyMarket (UK)
Find a counsellor, coach or therapy practitioner who works over the Internet with one easy search. Webcam counselling, email / online therapy and internet coaching make it easy to overcome problems and improve your life online. Search for male or female coaches, therapists or counsellors from all over Britain

Therapy With Promise
Promise offers private face to face therapy in central London, Oxford Circus and in central Kingston, South West London, Surrey.  Our on-line therapy also means you can talk with your therapist with Skype or with our Instant Secure Messaging, from wherever you are, whenever you need too.