Questions to ask your Counsellor
How do you work out if you have a decent counsellor? Are they competent, skilled and professional?
Try these questions:
- What are your qualifications?
- What associations and professional bodies are you a member of?
- Are you receiving supervision? (note: profesional counsellors are required to receive independent supervision from another counsellor)
- What is your ongoing program of training?
- How do you keep up with the latest research?
- What do you do if you think a particular client needs more help than you can offer?
- How many other clients have you worked with who have similar problems to mine?
You have a decent counsellor if you feel you can trust them to understand where you are coming from. This may take a couple of sessions.
Some qualities to look for in a good counsellor is that of empathy, good listening ability, a non-judgmental approach with the ability to help you feel safe and relaxed enough to able you to tell your story.
If after two sessions, you don't feel a level of comfortableness, tell the counsellor.
If you don't feel confident enough to tell the counsellor, either ask for a referral or make contact with another counsellor.
Only change and growth will happen if the therapeutic relationship between you and the counsellor is a good one.
