The purpose of this article is to provide brief information about counselling services and how you can access them. Read on to discover what counselling services are, how they work, and where they can be found.

What is a counselling service?

A counsellor provides emotional support through psychological interventions such as talking therapy sessions, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and guidance with daily life issues such as stress levels and lifestyle choices such as dieting or finances. Sessions are held on a regular basis. Your counsellor may offer a fixed number of sessions to address a specific issue or problem or a more open-ended programme that addresses several issues and current life events.

How can I access a counselling service?

There are many ways to access a counselling service:

1. Through your doctor/medical practitioner

If you and your doctor feel like you need assistance, they can refer you to a counsellor that accepts referrals from medical professionals. An example would be a medical doctor who runs a private practice and may have a counsellor on hand.

2. Through your community network

If you know of someone who has had experience with a good counsellor, it's always best to ask around to find out if they would recommend them or have any other referrals for someone else to talk with. Talk to your friends, family, neighbours or co-workers and ask them if they know of any good local counsellors. You can also contact the directory of service providers for this information.

3. Through your workplace 

Many workplaces offer counselling services through their staff. Counselling services are generally free to use and there may be times when you need to make an appointment, but this is often not the same as traditionally paid counselling sessions where you pay upfront for spending an hour of your time with the counsellor.

4. Through online resources

Many websites can provide you with free counselling resources such as books, articles, blogs, forums, etc. Your therapist will likely have their own website that you can log into to check in for available sessions for free, or they may have a blog where they post articles for free. You can also find counselling resources through social networking groups, forums, and chat rooms.

If you would like more information, you should reach out to a local counselling service today. A counsellor will be happy to discuss how they may be able to help you.