The Ideal Counselling Client

Counselling can seem daunting at first. In fact, even clicking that contact me button can be like climbing a mountain. Who knows if counselling is even right for you?

Of course, the true answer here is that YOU are the ideal client. Everything you bring, every bit of emotion or experience, all of your history. That's what makes you ideal. Of course, if you'd like some tips to get the best out of your counselling experience then here goes:

Be curious:

A willingness to explore and understand new aspects of yourself which might come up in the counselling room is really helpful. These things might be emotionally challenging and your counsellor will support you to navigate through them.

Be honest:

Right from the moment you choose a counsellor who is the right fit for you. Many counsellors offer introductory phone calls so you can explore in more detail how your counselling relationship will work. If they don't feel right for you, say no and find someone who does. It's a bit like dating.

Once you are actually in the room (or online), it's important to feel like you can be honest about your thoughts and feelings. This comes with practice (and no-one is going to be mad if you fail), the important thing is that you keep going.

Be committed:

Showing up takes commitment and effort. When we feel emotionally drained, had a bad nights sleep or maybe something more exciting came up, it can be hard to commit to the counselling process. Getting the best out of the therapeutic relationship means showing up week after week (of course you can have a holiday) and experiencing the ups and downs of process.

Be you (unapologetically):

Curiosity, honesty, commitment. It all sounds like a serious relationship. When we're in relationship with others, it's important that we feel we can be ourselves. I would invite you to be yourself in every aspect of our counselling relationship. Be it sitting in the chair you'd prefer, avoiding eye-contact if it makes you uncomfortable or maybe using the odd swear-word. Being you is the building block to successful sessions.

If you'd like to talk more about counselling and how it might benefit you, feel free to use the contact me form below.