Counselling

Counselling is a professional service that supports individuals, couples, and families in managing emotional, social, and psychological challenges. It emphasizes personal growth, coping skills, and informed decision making. Unlike longer-term psychotherapy, counselling is often short- to medium-term and focused on navigating specific problems or transitions.

Practitioners, known as counselors, are trained to build a collaborative, nonjudgmental relationship and use structured approaches to help clients articulate concerns, explore options, and set goals. Counselling can take place in private practice, schools, universities, healthcare settings, community centers, or online.

Common approaches include person-centered (emphasizing empathy and unconditional regard), cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, and solution-focused or motivational interviewing. Techniques include active listening, reflective paraphrasing, open questioning, goal setting, and homework between sessions.

Ethical practice revolves around confidentiality, informed consent, professional boundaries, and safety planning. Therapists typically receive regular supervision and work within codes of ethics set by professional bodies. Regulations and titles vary by country.

Evidence supports counselling effectiveness for a range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, relationship issues, and life transitions, particularly when a good therapeutic alliance exists. It is not a medical treatment, but can complement medical or psychiatric care and support wellbeing.

The term counselling is more common in British and Commonwealth contexts; counseling is used in American English. The field has historical roots in the humanistic, psychodynamic, and educational movements of the 20th century.