Questions you may want to ask
before you see a counsellor or therapist

We all need support sometime in our lives. Often when you decide to come to counselling, it is a brave step and we realise this at Bright Light and especially if you have chosen us to help you. After all, talking to someone about difficult things, often for the first time, can be challenging at first.

A recent BBC news article highlighted some challenges when new to the world of counselling and therapy and trying to navigate your way around it. We thought we’d share some useful tips to help support you on this journey. So what is it that you should look for in a counsellor?

Quality and qualification
Is your counsellor qualified? There are so many different types and level of qualifications out there, where do you start ?

You can be assured that all of our Counsellors at Bright Light adhere to the ethical standards of BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) and COSCA (Counselling and Psychotherapy in Scotland).

Sexual and Relationship Therapists adhere to the code of ethics of COSRT (College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists) and Family Therapists to UKCP (UK Counselling and Psychotherapists),

When seeking out a counsellor always check the standards set by an agency and of individual counsellors who have private practices.

The absolute minimum level of qualification you should be looking for is a diploma which should include:

  • Course must be a minimum of two years duration

  • Students must complete 200 plus client facing hours

  • The training provider must be an approved provider by a regulatory body

  • The course must be accredited by a regulatory body

Type or Specialism
There are many different types of counselling and therapy, how do you know which is the best for you?

At Bright Light, all potential new clients are offered a welcome meeting, which lasts 50 minutes. We ask people to complete a questionnaire and you spend time with a qualified counsellor who in partnership with you will talk through what support you are looking for and will ensure you get the right type of counselling or therapy from us or signpost you elsewhere to other agencies if your needs are a stronger fit with what they provide. This approach helps you to explore what is available from us and how it might work for you.

Look for an agency or counsellor who will take you through all of the options on offer. It’s your choice where you go to for support so make sure you make an informed one.

Private Practice or Agency?
There are different ways to access your counsellor, whether it be through a charity like Bright Light which has been providing a professional service for over 72 years, or to a private practice, or individual. At Bright Light we do all the ethical and quality checks to make sure your counsellor is qualified and safe. In addition we provide supervision to all our counsellors alongside regular continuous professional development to keep them up to date and able to respond to the ever changing needs of our clients.

If you choose a private practice (including individuals), we would strongly urge you to check their qualifications, who they trained with, was it accredited and by which body? If you’re unsure of a qualification, do a little extra research so you have a better understanding of what it actually means. And if unsure, ask.

You are within your rights to ask your counsellor about their qualifications and experience. After all, you are going to see them to work through issues that are impacting on your own life and maybe those of loved ones too. You owe it to yourself to make sure you are receiving the best support that you can and are able to make an informed decision when making that choice.

Bright Light
At Bright Light, we are deeply committed to providing a safe therapeutic space with counsellors who must achieve or surpass the high standards we set. We are unwavering in our adoption of excellence, and will not accept anything less. You can download details of all our services at our resource hub or contact us if you would like anymore information about our work and our counsellors.