How long does it all take?

Each counselling session takes one hour, except the first session with a couple which can be an hour and a half.  The duration of therapy is determined in consultation with your counsellor.  You can choose to end counselling any time, though we will often recommend a certain number of sessions that we have found to be helpful in achieving good outcomes in regard to similar concerns.   Please let us know when you are considering ending your sessions.  You are welcome to return at any time in the future.

What happens when I see a counsellor?

Seeking out professional help is a challenge. It takes courage and honesty to reach out.  Our culture tells us that we should be able to cope on our own.  However, this sort of myth only makes people feel they are the only one to feel or think the way they do.  In addition, isolation causes us to loose perspective and feel that our problems are unique to us that they are more difficult than they really are. Seeking out the assistance of a counsellor is the beginning of an exciting journey towards a new understanding of yourself that has the potential to become a guiding light on a fresh journey. Effective counselling operates in an atmosphere of trust, respect and understanding.  The counselling process involves conversation and can include psychological inventories, homework, selected reading and attending support groups if necessary. A counsellor’s task is to assist the counselee to find more rewarding ways of living.  The goals of counselling are worked out jointly by the counsellor and client(s). 

When do I finish?

You can choose to end counselling any time, though we will often recommend a certain number of sessions that we have found to be helpful in achieving good outcomes in regard to similar concerns.  Please let us know when you are considering ending yours sessions.  You are welcome to return to us at any time in the future.

Method and approach

Our counsellors always use recognised therapeutic approaches to counselling which are widely used by counsellors and psychologists.  Outstanding development is achieved through our eclectic model of therapy that looks at our past, present feelings, cognition and patterns of communication.

Choosing a counsellor

When we first go for psychology, counselling or therapy, the biggest challenge facing us is how to identify who would be good for us and what sort of therapy might suit us. It might seem that we need to answer each question separately, but research suggests that it is the combination that actually determines what works. The counsellor has to be skilled in the modality or modalities they use and this is important for the counsellor to be effective. However, the research shows that it is the therapeutic relationship that best determines the outcomes. This suggests that choosing the counsellor that you feel comfortable working with is the key measure for you as the client, provided that the chosen counsellor has adequate training and skills to be effective.

Some principles to apply in choosing a counsellor

1. You need to feel comfortable with the therapist. Within a session or two, you should have a sense that you are being heard, have a sense that the counsellor is developing a good understanding of you as a person and that you are comfortable working with this person. The technical term for this is that there is a "therapeutic alliance" between you and the therapist.
2. A "comfortable" counsellor is not necessarily someone that you never disagree with, or who never disagrees with you. Sometimes the greatest lessons come when the counsellor and the client struggle together for mutual understanding. If, however, this does not happen in a "safe" environment, then you are unlikely to be able to make use of this struggle in therapeutic ways. The exchange must always happen in an environment of mutual respect.
3. The counsellor needs to be skilled in their practice. It is reasonable to ask them how experienced they are, what qualifications they have and what modalities they use. In talking about modalities, a good question might be "so what draws you to working in that way?"
4. Psychology, psychotherapy and counselling are skilled professions. While many people can be helpful to talk through an issue, a skilled professional must have more than just a "good ear". Ensure that the qualifications are at a professional level. In Australia, most professionals will have a mix of university and developmental courses to guide them.
5. A professional counsellor will ensure that their work is subject to review by other professionals. This involves a process in which the counsellor regularly meets with another experienced counsellor and the work being undertaken is discussed. This process is called "professional supervision" and is done in such a way as to ensure confidentiality is maintained while letting the supervisor explore both the approach being taken and impact of this work on the client and counsellor.
6. A professional counsellor will be a member of one or more professional organisations. This organisation will ensure that the qualifications and ongoing professional development of the counsellor is maintained. It will also hold the counsellor accountable to a prescribed set of ethics.
7. The highest standards of professionalism can be determined by choosing a counsellor who is on the National Register.  Psychologists are required to be registered in the state or territory in which they practice.

If it does not feel right

If you have been working with a counsellor for a while and feel uncomfortable, then it is best, in the first instance to discuss this with that counsellor. A good counsellor will be willing to work through these issues with you. If despite this, you remain dissatisfied with the outcome, then you should exercise your judgement and either terminate the sessions or seek guidance from another professional.

If you ever have concerns about the ethical behaviour of a counsellor, then contact their relevant association or the relevant health monitoring body (in the ACT this is the Health Services Commissioner).