Counselling and psychotherapy are often used interchangeably and are both forms of talk therapy aimed at helping a client develop greater self-understanding and facilitate change. Counselling may be used to refer to shorter terms of therapy focusing more on immediate issues and wellbeing. Psychotherapy may be more long term and involve a deeper exploration of the past to develop deep insight and profound change. Our counsellors are all trained in various evidence-based psychotherapies which you can read about here.

A psychotherapist is any professional trained to perform mental health therapy and can include counsellors, psychologists and psychiatrists.

Counsellors are trained professionals who provide support for clients wishing to make change, resolve turmoil or manage personal or interpersonal issues. Counsellors do not diagnose or treat mental illness but instead focus on all areas of a person’s wellbeing.

A psychologist is trained in psychology and is usually qualified to perform psychological testing and psychotherapy for mental disorders. A psychologist may work with clients suffering from complex mental health conditions including personality disorders and major depressive disorders.

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specialises in diagnosing and treating a full range of mental disorders including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Psychiatrists are the only mental health professionals who may prescribe medication, and they may also provide psychotherapy.

The first session generally serves as an assessment and consultation during which we will collect some information about your history and briefly explain our counselling and practice procedures. The counsellor and client will spend most of the session getting to know each other and moving at the client’s pace.  The client is welcome and encouraged to ask any questions and share anything on their mind. Topics covered may include issues from the past, relationships, current struggles, and a deeper exploration of the client’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.  At the end of the session, we may have identified some goals and a plan for proceeding with future sessions.

A strong relationship between the counsellor and client is one of the most important factors for success. We consider your personal preference, your goals and the experience and special interests of the counsellor in pairing you with someone. A pre-screening call will also be scheduled for you to have a short conversation with the counsellor to ensure the right fit before proceeding. 

The number of recommended sessions will vary depending on the nature of the issues being explored and the goals of the client.  Many clients experience profound change after a few sessions, and many still find counselling to be extremely meaningful as a long-term process.