01 How do I choose a Counsellor for myself?

I began by asking myself, "Just what do I look for in a counsellor?" so that in the final view I am open to understanding what it feels like for you when you seek such help.

Counselling Aims

In counselling I want to be helped to explore my difficulties and concerns, and to develop more satisfying and resourceful ways of living.

I expect a professionally trained Counsellor to:

Be trustworthy
Respect my confidentiality
Listen to me carefully and sensitively
Help me to sort out how I would like things to be different
Support me in making the changes I choose to make

I want a Counsellor to help me to:

Explore my emotions, thoughts and behaviour
Become more aware of myself, my values and what motivates me
Help me to plan and set goals
Improve my relationships
Reduce my stress
Develop my sense of well-being (self-esteem, spirituality)
Help me to Do things differently

I expect a Counsellor may:

Work with me on your own or with support people
Give me information
Discuss with me who I could talk to about my difficulties
Act on my behalf with my consent
Refer me to someone more appropriate if the issue is beyond his or her skills

When I am choosing a Counsellor:

I understand that it is my right to ask which professional association that a counsellor belongs to.
I may ask to see a copy of the counsellor's Code of Ethics and I may ask for information about how that counsellor is supervised. (Supervision is when a counsellor attends sessions with an experienced colleague. The purpose of supervision is to ensure that counsellors monitor their work and seek ways of improving their service.)

Does this help you? What I have shared here are the ideas out of which I aim to function and provide you with the best possible help online.