Counselling may have come a long way since it’s origins, but does it still labour under a social stigma? It’s certainly more common now, but is it still resisted by some as a sign of individual weakness.

Experience suggests that often people turn to counselling in a time of personal crisis and related stress. The aim of the counsellor is then to help the client address the issue/s whilst in the process helping them, if possible, to learn from the experience and even discover what opportunity for change or personal growth may emerge from it.

“I see Counselling as walking with another in their journey,” remarked Peter Gregor, Counsellor at NHC, “or as native North American Indians would put it - walking in another persons moccasins.”

As client and counsellor walk together through the problem, the counsellor listens and really tries to get a feel for the life another is living; to get a sense of their pain; fear; frustration; anguish and of the causes and in so doing, the client may experience the emergence of freedom and relief and ideally (re-) empowerment.

The reality is that it takes courage for a client to step into counselling; far from being a weakness it requires strength to move into an unknown world. However the unique environment the counsellor can provide is that of a secure and confidential setting where the client will be heard, valued and not judged, blamed or directed. Instead they will be understood and helped to see life (their life) more openly and honestly, free from social pressure or expectation.

Where else is such a freedom to be found?! Neither a family member nor a close friend can be such a counsellor for they are inevitably built into the client’s history - they are part of their journey. A client can visit a counsellor and say what they like unreservedly in the knowledge that in the end they can walk away.

So does counselling work? For those accessing counselling at NHC, it often does. The openness of the client and the skill of the therapist is vital to success, but above all it is the working relationship – the trust that they build together that is crucial. A first session together needs to be one in which therapist and client can check out the presence of this basic ingredient. For the client it is to ask freely of themselves - “do I and can I trust this person?” For the counsellor the question is “am I the right person to help this client?” So often a ‘broken’ trust is involved in the Client’s reason for seeking Counselling, so to trust again takes a certain kind of courage. Such courage could be the first step on your journey towards improved health and overall well-being.

Counselling - is it for you? There’s only one way to find out! Call Peter Gregor at the Clinic - confidentiality assured.


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