What is Counselling? and How to Choose the Right Counsellor?

Counselling is a professional service that offers a confidential space to explore who you are and the difficulties you’re facing. It can be a place to talk things through, make sense of patterns in your life, and better understand yourself in relation to others.

What you share in counselling is treated with care and kept private, within clear professional boundaries. For many people, having a space where they don’t need to perform, explain themselves, or hold everything together can feel like a relief in itself.

How counselling is regulated in the UK

In the UK, counselling is a self-regulated profession. Counsellors who are members of professional bodies such as the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) or the NCPS (National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society) agree to work within a clear ethical framework.

Membership of a professional organisation indicates that a counsellor has appropriate training, works ethically, and is accountable for their practice. It also means they are required to engage in ongoing professional development and supervision, which helps maintain safe and effective work with clients.

What to expect at the start of counselling

In addition to having appropriate qualifications, a counsellor should provide a contract at the beginning of therapy. This contract outlines how the counsellor works, what you can expect, and practical details such as session length, location, fees, and cancellation policies.

This clarity helps you understand how that counsellor works and whether their approach feels right for you. Although counsellors work within ethical frameworks, there is still a wide range of different ways of practising, so having this information early on can help you feel more grounded and informed.

Different approaches to counselling

Counsellors work using different approaches (often called modalities), depending on their training and values. There is a wide variety of therapeutic models, which can feel overwhelming at first — but this diversity is also a strength.

Ongoing research continues to shape how counselling is practised, meaning counsellors have an expanding range of tools to support clients. Many counsellors are drawn to particular ways of working, which is why it can be helpful to ask potential counsellors about their approach and what informs how they practice.

There isn’t a single “right” modality — what matters most is how the work feels to you and whether the approach supports what you want from counselling.

How to choose a counsellor

Just as every client is unique, so too are counsellors. There is no one-size-fits-all approach. When looking for a counsellor, professional directories such as the BACP or Counselling Directory can be a helpful starting point. These allow you to check a counsellor’s training, professional membership, and practical details before making contact.

You might want to consider:

• The type of person you’d feel comfortable working with

• The training or approach they use

• Whether you prefer in-person, online, or phone sessions

While it can feel daunting, finding a counsellor you like and feel at ease with is an important part of whether counselling is likely to be helpful. Most counsellors aim to be supportive, non-judgemental, and respectful.

Reaching out can feel like a big step, especially if you’re not used to asking for support. It can be helpful to contact a few counsellors — many offer free introductory calls — to get a sense of who you connect with. Finding the right counsellor is less about “getting it right” and more about finding someone you feel able to talk to.

Want to know more about how I work?

If you’d like to learn more about my approach to counselling, you can read more on my about page.

If you’re considering counselling and would like to see whether working together feels right, you’re welcome to get in touch to arrange a free 15-minute, no-obligation call.