How do you choose a counsellor who's right for you ?

Counselling is a very personal relationship. So it works best if you find a counsellor you feel really comfortable with. You can find basic information about the counsellors in your local Relationship Services office at Contact Us. You can ask the office administrator for more information or ask to speak with the counsellors that interest you to find out more.

Here are some issues you might want to consider when you're choosing a counsellor.

Practical Issues

• How quickly can the counsellor see me?
• How flexible will they be if I need to change the time of my appointment?
• How much will a counselling session cost?
• Will they help build my skills and confidence so I can deal with issues myself once my counselling is finished?

How Competent is the Counsellor?

• Does the counsellor have the knowledge, skills and experience to work with the sort of issues I have?
• If I have issues involving other people, is the counsellor able to work with a wider group of people?
• Does the counsellor have a professional development plan that shows their skills and knowledge are up to date?
• Will they recognise the strengths and resources I already have and help me build on these rather than acting as the "expert"?

How Safe Will I Be?

• Is the counsellor supervised by another professional to ensure they practice safely?
• Is there someone I can go to within the counsellor's organisation or professional association if I have a problem with them?
• Does the counsellor meet my needs in terms of their gender, culture, understanding of sexuality, etc?