Hello – Lily-Jo here!
Last week I celebrated a whole decade of being a qualified counsellor.
10 years on, and I still believe the core conditions of counselling work:
- Empathy
- Congruence
- Unconditional Positive Regard
Counselling for me is more like a way of being, rather than a job or career. I’m fortunate to love the work that I do, and I find it a total privilege to be able to hold a person therapeutically when they are in emotional need.
Yes, it can be heavy at times, but the joy of seeing my clients move from that place into healing, far outweighs the heaviness.
It’s been a new experience working as a telephone counsellor on a crisis line through lockdown.
I often hear people saying to me, ‘I’ve been meaning to call for the last couple of months, but wasn’t sure what to expect’.
Did you know that on average, people struggle alone, on their own, trying to manage their wellbeing for TEN years before seeking help!! If you were worried about your blood pressure or blood sugars, there is no way you would wait that long! I know this is true for myself.
The truth is none of us are robots. We are human beings with emotions and the truth is, we need each other. No one is an island. I am currently having counselling, AND going through a CBT programme thanks to my GP surgery. Like most, I too am finding life tough right now, and I’ve widened my personal support base so that I can continue to support my clients.
So if you are considering embarking on a series of counselling then here are my top 5 tips for finding a good counsellor:
Top 5 Tips for Finding a Good Counsellor
Establish your goals for counselling.
Before beginning your search, ask yourself questions like: “what do I want to achieve through the sessions?” or “If the sessions were successful, how would I be feeling on completion?”
Use a reputable search engine.
If you’re based in the U.K., you can find your counsellor on the BACP directory. If you’re based internationally, try to find a directory in your local area that is reputable and associated with a professional body.
Interview your counsellor
Before choosing to work with a counsellor, it’s okay to take a moment to interview them to see if they are good fit for you and your needs. This gives you the chance to find out what their theoretical base is and make sure that it will suit your goals.
Make sure they are a member of a professional body.
A good counsellor will be a member of a professional body – for example BACP.
Find out what they charge
In the U.K., sessions can start from £30.00 per hour and can range right up to £100.00 per hour and beyond depending on the type of therapy you are looking for. Some counsellors will offer a concession for students, pensioners, or people who are on benefits.
Remember though, there are many outgoings that the counsellor has to meet; room hire, professional body membership, insurance, admin help, calendar scheduling software, invoice scheduling software, not to mention the course fees to become qualified, and the investment in learning, hence the fees can seem steep.
If you’d like to find out more about working with me, you can visit my Unstoppable Life Coaching page here to learn more, make an appointment, or purchase a wellbeing webinar.
Hope you have a good day!
Lily-Jo
About the Author: Lily-Jo
Lily-Jo is a qualified counsellor, counselling supervisor, and senior coach at Unstoppable Life Coaching. She is also the founder of mental health organisation, The Lily-Jo Project, which specialises in online digital wellbeing resources for children, teens and adults of all ages.
Catch her podcast here. Book a one to one session here. Or, stay connected by following her on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
