What is counselling?

Counselling is for anyone who wants to invest in getting their life on track.

Typical problems that people bring to counselling include low-mood, depression, feeling stuck or trapped, anxiety, stress, feeling unhappy at work, eating issues, over-doing drink, drugs, gambling or computers, relationship issues (work or personal), identity issues, family problems, bereavement, career uncertainty or dissatisfaction, life-stage issues (eg mid-life crisis, retirement), a sense of something being ‘not quite right’ or a desire for greater well-being or personal development.

Through listening to you and talking with you, the counsellor aims to facilitate your personal development. Counsellors rarely offer advice, but instead will work collaboratively with you to help you look at your situation with fresh eyes and experiment with new solutions.

Many people feel that their problems are not important enough to warrant counselling. Others worry that counselling may not help – or that they are in some way ‘abnormal’. In all cases, a trial initial appointment will enable you to explore what you can get from counselling – and what you can’t.

The best-regarded professional registration bodies in the UK for counsellors are: UKCP (UK Council for Psychotherapy), BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy), BABCP (British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies), BPC (British Psychoanalytic Council) and the BPS (British Psychological Society). We strongly suggest checking directly with any counsellor or psychotherapist you are considering, whether they are registered with one of these bodies. There are some people who claim to be counsellors in the Cambridge area who are advertising and practising without being registered and others who are registered with bodies that, although they appear credible, do not require the same level of in-depth training, personal awareness and professional and ethical accountability as these organisations require of their registrants. All counsellors at Cambridge Counselling Service are registered with either UKCP or BACP. Many have masters degrees in counselling or psychotherapy.

To set up an appointment get in touch by email or leave a message on our 24-hour telephone answer service:

01223 261 061

admin@CambridgeCounsellingService.co.uk