At the moment, anyone can call themselves a psychotherapist or counsellor and there is no single regulatory body for the profession. But for assurance of professional standards you should look for someone registered with one of the major associations such as the UKCP or the BACP. Both maintain lists of therapists but the BACP website seems much more user-friendly. Beyond this, look for experience and evidence of additional training. Both are likely to add to the price, however, and do not guarantee a better result.
back to topIf the prospective counsellor doesn't offer a free initial session then have a long conversation with them on the phone. Use this to get an idea of how you feel about the person. It can be helpful to ask about the time, place, cost and duration of meetings plus any charges for cancelled appointments and holidays. It is important to be clear about what you want and what the practitioner is able to offer, this will also help you build up an idea of what is involved.
Once you have ensured that the practicalities are acceptable the most important question to ask yourself is whether this is a person you can work with. Allow yourself to go with your 'gut instinct' when you talk to them. Do you like this person? Do you trust them? Do you feel safe where they work? If the answer to any of these questions is a big "no", find someone else. Your heart may be a better guide than your head, but don't ignore either. When you do meet your first session should be commitment free, use it to establish your way forward.
Another indicator might lie among the many different trainings and traditions (see Types of Therapy) and you may have one of these in mind. Also, look for experience or special interest in the issue you are bringing.
back to topYou need to commit to a session each week, usually at a regular time, and be prepared to talk about yourself for 50 minutes. In fact you don't always need to talk, but you will need the urge and the curiosity to understand yourself better, and some courage to face not just difficulties but also the possibility of change. You may be asked to observe rules like paying for sessions if you cancel at short notice: this is not just to protect the counsellor but also helps to ensure your commitment to the process.
back to topSessions are confidential within the terms of the BACP ethical framework, or similar. In addition to this, it is up to you what you want to tell your therapist.. Whilst it is helpful to the process if you can be open, you should not be put under pressure to reveal more than you are comfortable with.
back to topThat depends what you want. Some short-term techniques, like Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, and Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy have been shown to be helpful in just 6-12 sessions. However, even for these techniques the work goes on after the therapy finishes.
Change - real, deep change that will endure stress and life-change - is not an overnight process and you should also allow for the fact that it takes a while to build up a safe and trustworthy relationship with your therapist. You should be prepared for a process that is likely to take months and that you may even wish to continue longer. However, the journey itself can be joyful and liberating.
back to topMuch NHS therapy is very time-limited and you may have to wait a long time for referral. You are unlikely to have much choice about who you see, when you see them, or the approach they offer. The same is true of counselling offered through specialist agencies, and you may well be asked to make a charge to support the cost of overheads and administration in such organisations. Many agencies are likely to offer you counsellors who are not registered/accredited to UKCP or BACP standards, or they may be in training to get there (though this need not be an issue as trainees often do fantastic work.)
Paying for counselling or therapy gives you a full, adult say in what you are getting. You won't need to wait: you can choose someone local, agree a convenient time, and negotiate flexibility if you need it. And you will really value every minute of the time.
back to topIn London, the lowest end of the range is £50 per session for a newly registered/accredited practitioner. You are likely to pay more for experience, specialist techniques, nice buildings and certain post-codes. This may seem a lot, but there are quite a few 'invisible' overheads for the practitioner, involving both cost and time.
If cost is a real issue for you, and you can't get (or wait for) free counselling through the NHS, look for a local charitable agency. You could also try to haggle a bit with the therapist of your choice. Many offer a couple of places at a reduced rate for those on a low income. This shouldn't result in a cut-price service and anyone who minds you asking wouldn't have been a good choice anyway!
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