How to choose a counsellor

Deciding to seek counselling is a significant step towards improving your well-being, but once you’ve made the decision, how do you choose the right professional for your needs? With so many factors to consider, the process can feel overwhelming. This guide will walk you through how to use our search tool to find the best counsellor for you.

1. Ask for recommendations

If you know someone who has already been through therapy, ask them about their experience. What did they think of their counsellor and do they have any advice for you?

While you shouldn’t solely rely on someone else’s experience (as everyone will have their preferences when it comes to qualities in a professional), they can provide insight into what to expect.

If they had a positive experience and would recommend their counsellor to you, you can use our site search (which you can find in our top toolbar) to find their name.

2. Identify your needs

Before starting your search, consider these essential factors:

Defining your preferences will help narrow your search and make the process smoother.

If you’re unsure about your answer to any of these questions, here is some guidance for five common counselling questions.

3. Use our search tool

Search by location

To search for therapists in your area, select 'In person' and enter your full postcode. You can then use the distance filter to increase the search area, depending on how far you are able to travel.

Search for online therapy

Lots of counsellors and psychotherapists offer online therapy and telephone counselling if you're not able to see them face to face - in fact, we have over 25,000 professionals listed on our site who offer these remote services.

To find an online counsellor, simply use our online search.

Search by issue

Most people who start counselling have something in particular that's causing them difficulties, whether it's anxiety, stress, depression, grief, relationship issues, or something else. For others, it can be a feeling of uncertainty - something about how they're feeling just isn't quite right.

If something specific is bothering you, or getting in the way of living your life, you can use our 'What's worrying you?' drop-down menu to find a counsellor who can specifically help with that area.

Search by type of therapy

When deciding on the right counsellor or therapist for you, it can be useful to understand the different therapies they may use. While all can be effective, you may find one approach more appealing than another, or find that some approaches are better for certain problems than others.

If you’ve had counselling in the past, do you know the type of therapy your counsellor practised? What did you think of their approach? It can be useful to know this information before embarking on your search this time around.

Remember, there is no ‘fix-all’ approach. It will depend on you, your situation and the therapist.

Unless you have a firm preference for one of the approaches, it may be best to have an initial session and focus on how comfortable you feel with your therapist, before making up your mind.

Refine your search with additional filters

We have a range of additional filters you can use to help you narrow down your search. Consider the following details:

• What type of client are you?

Are you an adult looking for individual therapy or are you seeking counselling as a family? Are you seeking support via your workplace's employee assistance programme (EAP)? You can use these filters in the 'Type of Client' drop-down, to ensure the professionals you're browsing are best able to help you.

• Enter a keyword

We have a wide variety of general mental health information and advice on our website, but you may have a really specific issue that you're seeking help for. You can use the 'Keyword' box to add extra details to your search e.g. 'skin picking'. If a counsellor has mentioned that they deal with this on their profile, they will appear in the search results.

Alternatively, you may wish to use the keyword box to add additional requirements, such as other languages spoken e.g. 'French speaker' or if you are seeking a concessionary fee rate e.g. 'student' or 'concession'.

4. Review counsellor profiles

If you click on a counsellor’s name you can find out more about them, along with their contact details and fees. You'll notice some organisations are listed below the individual counsellors too, some of which may also be able to offer you support.

As you may have already noticed, there are many different terms out there to describe professionals working in the mental health industry - from psychiatrist to psychologist, from psychotherapist to counsellor - and each professional can help in different ways.

Understanding the key differences between these professionals and how they can offer support should help you decide which one is right for you.

Key things to look out for

Our counsellors list a lot of information on their profiles and it can be helpful to notice some of the extra features that can help you find what you’re looking for.

Within a counsellor’s profile, you can find out more specific information about their qualifications and experience, as well as what they can help you with. They may provide more guidance about their areas of speciality and how long they have been helping clients within these areas.

Remember, if they have been working in the area that you are looking for help with for some time, they are likely to have built up a solid knowledge base of what is most likely to help you.

5. Reach out and connect

Once you’ve narrowed down your choices to a few professionals who fit your criteria and who you get a good ‘feel’ for, the next step is to approach them.

Some people get nervous about this. Don’t worry, a counsellor is just another person, the same as you. A good counsellor will always take five or 10 minutes to chat with you about what you might need and to answer any questions you might have. But don’t feel you have to make a decision right away. You can think it over and give yourself time to compare other counsellors.

6. Begin your therapy journey

Finding a counsellor is just the first step - building a connection and ensuring they meet your needs is just as important. Here’s how to ensure you make the right choice before committing to sessions.

Establish a connection with your therapist before committing to more sessions

When searching for a counsellor, one of the most important factors is trusting your gut instinct. Pay attention to your initial reaction and choose a therapist you feel drawn to.

Your connection with your therapist is crucial. It’s important that you feel that your therapist understands you personally and cares about your well-being. It’s equally important that you feel comfortable talking to them about what might be bothering you, so good rapport is key. Try to establish this on the phone or via email before your first appointment, if you can.

Do your own checks

Whichever counsellor you opt to see, remember that you can ask about their training and experience before your first session. This includes confirmation of their up-to-date professional body membership and professional insurance - as well as evidence of any relevant qualifications.

It’s perfectly OK to ask for clarification if there’s something you don’t understand. This can give you peace of mind before you commence the therapeutic relationship.

Don’t be disheartened if it’s not right first time around

If the first counsellor you reach out to isn’t quite right for you, please don’t give up. There are many different branches of counselling, and each practitioner will often have different techniques and approaches, so if you don’t have success with one at first, it is always worth trying someone else who uses a different approach.

Whilst going for counselling can be a big step into the unknown, it can bring you many benefits; feeling better about yourself, improved connection with your family and friends, reduction in your stress levels, improvement in your physical health, and a better understanding of your own thoughts and feelings - the benefits are endless.

We’re here to help you start your journey with confidence.