Finding the right counsellor

Finding the right counsellor or psychotherapist

It is very important to find the right counsellor or therapist for you. It can help to make a checklist of what you are looking for. First of all, it is very important to find someone who is fully qualified. Letters after the name can be misleading, and might only mean membership of an organisation that allows almost anyone to join!

It is important to ask what the qualifications mean. Ideally, the person you choose should be accredited or registered with either the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, (BACP) www.bacp.co.uk, or with the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) www.psychotherapy.org.uk. The BACP website is especially helpful and provides information about counselling and psychotherapy.

Beyond this, it is essential to find someone that you feel you can trust. You might want to telephone several different therapists and talk with each one before you decide to make an appointment. See how you feel when you talk to them. Most therapists use answer-phones, but if you leave a message, they should phone you back within the next few hours, and you can then ask them about the way they work. For example, you might want to ask how long they have been qualified, whether they are accredited, where and for how long they trained, and what fees they charge.