If you've ever talked to family and friends about what counselling is, it's possible that each person will have their own interpretation and understanding of it. However, in general, Counselling aims to help you cope with personal situations, experiences, feelings and thoughts.
The counsellor will usually ask questions, listen to you, reflect on what you share and explore the range of options that may be available to you.
It's important to note that counselling is not about giving you the answer or providing you with a quick fix. It is best to view counselling as a way of putting things into perspective and opening you up to options and resources that you may not have previously considered.
For some, the idea of counselling may seem daunting or embarrassing, this may be due to:
- fear of being judged
- fear of others close to you may wanting to know why are you deciding to talk with a counsellor
- embarrassment about what has or is happening for you or your family
- concern that seeing a counsellor will draw unwanted attention to the problem or make it worse
- feeling you should be able to manage things on your own
- feeling things are not to be shared outside of the family
These concerns and fears are not uncommon. This is where, Paula from Bayside Counselling & Family Therapy can assist. With a phone call, you can confidentially talk with her about your concerns before making your first appointment. Paula takes a sensitive and caring approach to different issues and understands that your ability to talk openly may be hindered by:
- the nature of your situation or issues
- bad experiences of counselling in the past
- difficulties accessing counselling
- or difficulties such as family commitments
In special circumstances, Paula is willing to consult with you over the phone or if local, she can come to you.
