If you need immediate assistance, call one of the following services:
131 114
1800 55 1800
Counselling is a process in which you talk to a trained professional who listens to your feelings and thoughts and provides non-judgemental feedback, support and guidance. In choosing a counsellor, you should be aware that there are no restrictions on who can call themself a counsellor, so you should check the person's qualifications before engaging their services. Free telephone counselling is always available through the services listed above. However, usually this will be a 'one-off' session. Seeing someone face to face can allow you to work things through in more depth. Free face to face counselling can often be found through student counselling services at school or uni, community health centres. Telephone counselling services can also provide a referral to a counsellor in your area. Counsellors may be psychologists, social workers, or people with some other counselling qualification.
Professional counsellors are bound by a code of conduct which specifies that they will treat any information you share with them confidentially. If you have any doubts or concerns about the counselling process, make sure you ask the counsellor about these issues.
Psychotherapy and counselling are similar, in that both mainly involve talking, and take place in a confidential, professional environment. There is a lot of overlap between the two. However, whereas counselling usually involves listening, reflecting and supporting a person in relation to some specific life situatiion, psychotherapy is a form of treatment aimed at bringing about deeper, long-lasting psychological change. Psychotherapists require more training and expertise than counsellors. Psychotherapy may be provided by a psychologist, a psychiatrist, or someone with psychotherapeutic training. Psychotherapy usually continues for longer than counselling, and there is usually a fee involved.
Medication is sometimes required to treat certain psychological disorders. Depression, for example, may be treated with anti-depressants, counselling or psychotherapy, or a combination of psychological and drug treatment. Some mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, are not treatable by psychotherapy alone, and require medication. Medication must be prescribed by a psychiatrist or G.P. If you are prescribed a medication for a psychological disorder, you should always ask about possible side-effects, and report any side-effects you experience to your doctor. You should also be aware that there may be many different types of medication which could be used to treat a particular condition, and it may take some time to find the medication that works best for you, and the correct dosage.
