Counselling may be concerned with personal development issues; addressing and resolving specific problems; making decisions; coping with crisis; (e.g. stress, bereavement and redundancy), developing personal insight and knowledge; working through feelings of inner conflict or improving relationships with others.” (Code of Ethics and Practice of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy). To visit (BCAP).
Crucially, the counsellor’s role is to facilitate change in the client, enabling the client to work through issues in ways which respect their values, personal resources and capacity for self-determination…rather than to tell the client what to do. Counselling then presents a unique opportunity for the client to work through many issues in a way that is safe whilst providing solutions; thus self empowering the client.