Things to expect in counselling

​Though each individual client is different, there are a few areas of therapy that are consistent. Here are a couple things you can expect when getting started with counselling. 

1. Expect a counsellor you feel comfortable with - don’t settle for a bad fit. You may even want to try one or two counsellors to be sure you found someone you feel the most connected to. This is an important aspect of counselling and one to be considered a top priority.     
2. Counselling is a partnership. Many people reaching out for counselling have an expectation that the therapist will tell them what to do and if they do it, things will get better. Expect therapy to be a partnership and healing is relational. Therapy should feel like a collaboration. ​
3. Counselling MUST be a safe space. Though times may be unpleasant, or challenging, frustrating or unpleasant memories and emotions may come up, you should always feel comfortable and safe in therapy. 

By: Maria Drohan, MSW, RSW