The BACP definition of counselling

Counselling takes place when a counsellor sees a client in a private and confidential setting to explore a difficulty the client is having, distress they may be experiencing or perhaps their dissatisfaction with life, or loss of a sense of direction and purpose. It is always at the request of the client as no one can properly be 'sent' for counselling.

By listening attentively and patiently the counsellor can begin to perceive the difficulties from the client's point of view and can help them to see things more clearly, possibly from a different perspective. Counselling is a way of enabling choice or change or of reducing confusion. It does not involve giving advice or directing a client to take a particular course of action. Counsellors do not judge or exploit their clients in any way.

In the counselling sessions the client can explore various aspects of their life and feelings, talking about them freely and openly in a way that is rarely possible with friends or family. Bottled up feelings such as anger, anxiety, grief and embarrassment can become very intense and counselling offers an opportunity to explore them, with the possibility of making them easier to understand. The counsellor will encourage the expression of feelings and as a result of their training will be able to accept and reflect the client's problems without becoming burdened by them.

Acceptance and respect for the client are essentials for a counsellor and, as the relationship develops, so too does trust between the counsellor and client, enabling the client to look at many aspects of their life, their relationships and themselves which they may not have considered or been able to face before. The counsellor may help the client to examine in detail the behaviour or situations which are proving troublesome and to find an area where it would be possible to initiate some change as a start. The counsellor may help the client to look at the options open to them and help them to decide the best for them. BACP 2009

Person centred counselling

The person-centred approach was developed by Carl Rogers in the 1950's.  It views the client as the best authority on their own lives and believes that thay have the innate ability to move in the direction of a more fulfilling and satisfying way of being.  It seeks to offer a safe, nurturing environment in which a person can explore their own issues without fear of judgement.

Person-centred counselling seeks to build a therapeutic relationship in which the client feels a deep acceptance of themselves as a person and the counsellor has an authentic desire to understand their client, and a real commitment to being genuine in their relationship.  It is this nurturing, safe, environment which allows the client to truly explore their difficulties and find resolution.

Cognitive behavioural counselling

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a more active type of psychotherapy, whereby the client and practitioner talk, act and work together to achieve agreed therapeutic goals.  Clients can expect to work actively within each session, as well as to receive guided assignments to be completed between sessions.  These between-session assignments may include behavioural exercises and/or reading.  

Cognitive behavioural psychotherapy highlights that it is our beliefs, interpretations and perceptions of life events that determine our feelings, moods and, ultimately, our actions.  Therefore, the main goal of cognitive behavioural therapy is to help people identify, understand and modify their belief systems and self-defeating behaviours, in order to function more happily and effectively.

While Counselling Matters offers primarily person centred counselling, CBT may be used where it is appropriate.