In short: yes! Mental health professionals have strong ethical obligations to ensure what passes between them and their clients is protected, and they do not divulge any information about the client’s treatment, or what is said in session to anyone else. Therapists take this very seriously.

However, because counsellors, psychologists, social workers, psychotherapists etc. are called Mandatory Reporters under the law, they must report information relating to child protection concerns, major crimes the client has admitted to, or sometimes be forced to call emergency services if they feel the client is a danger to themselves or others. This is only done in very serious cases.

Always make sure your counsellor has been trained at university level, and if you’re unsure, ask them. I have a Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy and a Post Graduate Diploma of Counselling from the Australian College of Applied Psychology. I also have a bachelor’s degree in Dramatic Art and am a registered NSW Justice of the Peace. I’m a Certified Practicing Counsellor with The Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia, have full Civil Liability Insurance and am listed on the Australian Register of Counsellors and Psychotherapists.

Education is extremely important to me, and I’m always upskilling to learn new ways of helping my clients

During a counselling session, your therapist will ask what concerns you have and what your goals for counselling are. This could be about changing the way a problem influences you, having more control of a situation, or changing habitual responses that are no longer working for you. Counsellors are non-judgemental and would never see a client’s problem as ‘too much’ or ‘too weird’.

You will be asked to share your thoughts and feelings so you can be better understood and supported, as well as gently encouraged sometimes to look at certain things in a different way that may serve you better. The most important word is ‘change’ – this is the entire point of counselling. In session, people are asked what they would like to change about themselves, rather than try to fix or change other people who aren’t there.

This all depends on the issue you bring to counselling, and how long it has been bothering you. Many people can learn important coping skills, new ways of seeing things and develop more confidence in 8-12 sessions, sometimes even less. You will never be pressured to attend more than you feel you should and your counsellor will always be open to what is going to work best for you.

Of course not! You are always in charge of what is discussed, when, and for how long. Quite often, painful and distressing emotions come to the surface in counselling, which is normal and talking about it is very helpful in processing these feelings. However, skilled counsellors only ever explore these issues in ways the person can manage, so that they feel safe and supported.

Um…no! By-the-way, Psychoanalysis is just another form of counselling where the person is encouraged to simply talk about their feelings, and the therapist may make interpretations regarding where those feelings are coming from, and how they may have started – that’s it! No one is ever hypnotised, put into a trance or made to do or say anything they do not wish to.

Beware of therapists that claim to be amazing at 26 different types of therapy! It’s just not possible. I use an integrated approach that uses a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy,  Psychoeducation, Skills training, and I have an interest in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy. I only ever use therapy types or ‘modalities’ that are backed by evidence (i.e. shown that they work effectively) and am constantly training to update and broaden my knowledge and skills.