What is Counselling?

There are a variety of mental health professionals that specialise in many areas of mental health. There are psychiatrists, psychologists, psychotherapists, counsellors, social workers, mental health nurses, the list goes on.

But what is counselling?

Counselling is a talk therapy whereby individuals, couples, families or groups have issues or challenges that may be new or have been ongoing that they'd like to discuss. Some argue that counselling is a therapy unto itself. Counsellors provide a safe, confidential space to allow for clients to share what they'd like to, and without judgement.

Depending on the issue/s and/or challenges we will attempt to delve into what's been said, and to explore these together while also building on the all-important therapeutic relationship.

We place a big emphasis on building a trusting, supportive, non-judgemental therapeutic relationship as this lays the foundation for our work together and allows for authentic and deep work to be carried out.

Counsellors will look at what may be an appropriate modality to use in sessions and may use one or integrate more than one modality in sessions depending on what the counsellor feels will be best for the client/s.

Counselling can be carried out in person, online, by phone, by text or by email however, this depends on the counsellor and the client's preference.

Sometimes talk therapy may need to be carried out in conjunction with somatic therapy which involves releasing emotions and focuses more on body awareness. This type of therapy should be carried out by a health professional that has trained in this field of work.

All registered counsellors in New Zealand should also seek regular counselling supervision themselves either fortnightly or when they feel they'd like a session themselves, to ensure competency and safe practice as a health professional.