Counseling Training

Counseling Training



Counseling Training

Counselling is a type of talking therapy. People talk to a counsellor about their problems. Counsellors are trained to listen sympathetically and can help people deal with any negative thoughts and feelings that they have.

As well as counselling, there are a number of other types of talking therapies. For example, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a type of talking therapy that can be used to retrain a person's way of thinking to help them cope with stressful situations.

NICE recommendations

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends certain types of talking therapies for treating a number of different health conditions.

For example, counselling may be helpful in treating:

depression,

anxiety,

obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD),

post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),

long-term illnesses,

eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia, and

substance abuse.

The aims of counselling

Counselling can help people to:

discuss their problems honestly and openly,

deal with issues that are preventing them from achieving their goals and ambitions, and

have a more positive outlook on life.

Everyone has different ways of coping with their personal difficulties. People often deal with stressful situations and events by talking to their partner, a family member or a friend. However, in certain situations, talking to a professional counsellor may be more helpful.

Admitting you need help is a positive step

At some stage, you will probably experience feelings of stress, disappointment and grief. At these times, seeking assistance can help you deal with your feelings and emotions.

Counselling can be a positive way of addressing any unresolved issues that you have. It can help you to understand your problems better, rather than ignoring them and hoping that they will go away, only for them to come back later. It can also give you a better understanding of other people's points of view.

There are a number of different types of talking therapies. Each type aims to help people deal with negative thoughts and feelings, and enables them to make positive changes.

The main types of talking therapies are:

cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT),

psychodynamic therapy,

humanistic therapy, and

other types of talking therapies, such as group therapy and relationship therapy.

These therapies are discussed in more detail below.

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy that may retrain a person's way of thinking to help them to deal with stressful situations.

CBT is used to help solve a number of problems such as:

depression,

anxiety,

obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD),

post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),

managing long-term illness,

eating disorders, and

schizophrenia.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends CBT for all of these.

CBT was developed from two earlier types of psychotherapy:

Cognitive therapy: designed to change a person's thoughts, beliefs, attitudes and expectations.

Behavioural therapy: designed to change a person's actions.

CBT is a talking therapy that is based around the idea that the way a person thinks about a situation affects the way that they act. In turn, a person's actions influence the way they think and feel. It is therefore necessary to change both the act of thinking (cognition) and behaviour at the same time.

The NHS is using CBT more frequently, particularly for ...