Counsellor
What is counsellor
A counsellor is a trained professional who offers emotional support and helps clients explore their ideas, feelings, relationships, and tough situations. Counselling can help people develop coping mechanisms and achieve their personal objectives.
What does a counsellor do?
A counsellor provides a secure private environment where you can discuss issues and work through challenges. A counsellor can:
- Listen to your issues without judgment.
- Help you examine your thoughts and feelings.
- Help you identify patterns or challenges.
- Teach coping and problem-solving strategies.
- Help you manage stress.
- Help you through pain and loss.
- Help with relationship problems.
- Help you in reaching your own goals.
- Refer you to another healthcare provider as necessary.
What issues can a counsellor help with?
Counselling may help with:
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Low mood
- Grief and loss
- Relationship difficulties
- Family problems
- Work or study pressures
- Life changes
- Self-esteem concerns
- Emotional difficulties
- Coping with difficult experiences
- Adjustment to illness or other major changes
Types of counselling
Different types of counselling may include:
- Individual counselling: Involves one-on-one sessions with a counsellor.
- Relationship counselling: Helps couples or partners who are facing challenges in their relationship.
- Family counselling: Helps family members work through communication or relationship issues.
- Grief counselling: Offers help after mourning or other losses.
- Online counselling: Provides counselling remotely through an online platform.
- Group counselling: Involves several people who share a common concern or goal.
Counsellor vs psychologist vs psychiatrist
| Counsellor | Psychologist | Psychiatrist |
| Provides counselling and emotional support for a range of personal and psychological concerns. | Assesses and treats psychological and mental health problems. | A medical doctor who specialises in diagnosing and treating mental health conditions. |
| May help with stress, relationships, grief and life challenges. | Can provide psychological assessment and evidence-based psychological therapies. | Can assess complex mental health conditions and prescribe medicines when appropriate. |
| Qualifications and professional registration arrangements can vary depending on the counsellor and profession. | Psychologists are registered with the Psychology Board of Australia. | Psychiatrists are medical practitioners with specialist training in psychiatry. |
| Generally focuses on counselling rather than prescribing medicines. | Generally focuses on psychotherapy and does not prescribe medicines. | Can prescribe medicines and provide other medical treatments. |
When should you see a counsellor?
You may benefit from counselling if:
- You are having difficulty coping with stress.
- You are having relationship troubles.
- You are experiencing sadness or loss.
- You are coping with a significant life change.
- You’re overwhelmed by your feelings.
- You seek help with personal issues.
What to expect during a counselling session
- Introduction: Your counsellor will explain the counselling process and what to expect.
- Discuss your worries: You can discuss what led you to counselling.
- Explore your feelings: The counsellor may ask you questions to understand your ideas, feelings, and behaviours.
- Set goals: You may decide your objectives through counselling.
- Develop strategies: Your counsellor can help you in developing coping, communication, or problem-solving skills.
- Review progress: Future sessions might be used to review progress and adjust goals or strategies.
Note: The content on this page is for information only. Hola Health does not provide counselling sessions. In case of emergency, call triple zero (000).
