OXFORD LISTENING COLLECTIVE

WHAT IS COUNSELLING? 

Counselling is talking therapy. A counselling session offers an opportunity to stop and think without distraction. A counsellor listens to you, without judgement, without offering advice, and together you try to find a way of working through your struggles. It is something people usually seek out when they are grappling with emotional difficulties that are affecting their general wellbeing.

HOW LONG DOES COUNSELLING LAST?

Each session lasts 50 minutes and usually takes place at the same time each week. The duration of counselling can be short-term (6-12 sessions) or open-ended. Short-term counselling can often have a more specific focus than open-ended counselling. Open-ended counselling gives space for a more exploratory approach.

WHAT KIND OF COUNSELLING IS RIGHT FOR ME?

There are dozens of types of therapy and it can be overwhelming trying to work out which one is right for you. Should you choose Integrative, Person-Centred, Psychodynamic, Transactional Analysis, or the many others on offer?

All counselling is designed to help you with difficulties, and the different types simply use different theoretical approaches to do the same thing. Generally, someone offering psychotherapy might expect to work with you for a longer period of time than someone offering counselling, but there are no hard and fast rules.

The type of counselling we provide is called Integrative Counselling. This is a talking therapy that brings together different theories into a coherent framework that can be tailored to your needs. We believe that this is a good therapy model. If you aren’t sure, please talk to us. If we feel that our approach isn’t the best one for you, we will help you to find one that is. The most important things is to find a counsellor that you feel comfortable with.

HOW DO I CHOOSE A THERAPIST?

There is growing evidence to show that the relationship between you and your counsellor is the most important factor in creating a helpful therapeutic environment. So, it is important that you find a counsellor who is right for you. We offer an initial meeting free of charge so that we can meet and discuss any questions or concerns and you can then decide if you want to meet regularly. 

DO I HAVE TO SIGN A CONTRACT?

If you choose to continue, your counsellor will ask you to sign an agreement to say that you understand how their practice works. It is especially important that you understand that there may be rare occasions when they may have to break confidentiality. But the process is always under your control, and they won’t ask you to commit to a certain number of sessions.