Counselling
What is counselling - and is it the right choice for you?
Counselling offers a confidential, non-judgemental space to explore your thoughts, feelings, and experiences with a trained professional. It can be transformative for a wide range of life difficulties - and for many people it is exactly the right level of support.
What does a counsellor do?
A counsellor listens carefully, helps you make sense of what you are experiencing, and supports you in finding your own way forward. Unlike being advised by a friend or family member, a counsellor brings professional training, objectivity, and a consistent, boundaried relationship.
Most counsellors work with a particular therapeutic approach - such as person-centred, psychodynamic, or integrative - and will explain their way of working at the start. The relationship between you and your counsellor is central to the process.
Sessions are typically 50 minutes, weekly, and can be short-term (6-12 sessions) or longer depending on your needs.
What qualifications should a counsellor have?
In the UK, counselling is not a legally regulated profession, which means the title is not protected in law. However, most reputable counsellors hold a diploma or degree-level qualification and are registered with a professional body such as the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) or the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP).
Registration with BACP or UKCP means the counsellor has met minimum training standards, holds insurance, and works within a code of ethics. All counsellors listed at the Matlock Therapy Centre hold appropriate professional memberships.
All our counsellors are registered with BACP or equivalent professional bodies and hold appropriate qualifications and insurance.