Counselling | How to choose a Counsellor/Therapist | What to expect
Counselling or Therapy is designed to be a supportive process that assists people to deal with problems and issues.
The First Counselling Session
In the first session, your counsellor/therapist will seek to understand your circumstances and the factors that have led to you attending counselling. They will also seek to understand what you hope to gain from counselling. He or she will ask about you, your background and the issues that are concerning you.
These questions help the counsellor understand what is going on for you and how best to respond. In subsequent sessions, they will work with you to achieve the changes you are seeking.
The counsellor will also make sure they convey the possibilities and limitations regarding what therapy can achieve and provide to you. They will clarify with you what you can expect from them as a therapist.
The most important thing is for you to feel comfortable and to feel you can ask questions about the therapy process.
Read our information on how to choose a counsellor/therapist.
The therapeutic relationship
For counselling/therapy to be successful you need to be working with a practitioner who is able to establish and maintain a safe therapeutic relationship with you.
At times you may feel uncomfortable during therapy or with the therapist for a variety of reasons. Therapists working through the Trauma Centre invite you to discuss this with them if you are able to. At times this may be easier to do in writing if doing it face to face feels too uncomfortable. The other option is to seek to link in with another practitioner. If you have significant concerns at any stage we encourage you to speak with your GP.
The therapeutic relationship between client and therapist is distinctly different from that of a friend, parent or romantic partner. Your therapist will be actively working to maintain a safe and empowering therapeutic relationship with you. However, if it is not working -your wellbeing and comfort are of the utmost importance- and we encourage you to seek alternative options for yourself and/or with your GP.
As Practitioners, we are each bound by the Code of Ethics of our own profession. As members of the Adelaide Trauma Centre we also stand by our own Ethical Standards.