WHAT IS COUNSELING?

Counselling is really just a conversation between two people.

At Kids Help Phone, we believe:
the problem is the problem - not the person
people have the strength and resources to make necessary changes in their lives
that sometimes we need a little help to tap into our strengths
the counsellor's job is to help people make sense of their experiences and open up possibilities for positive change
Sometimes, people who use Kids Help Phone think that a counsellor will tell them what to do. Counsellors are trained to know about a wide range of concerns and experiences, but every individual is unique and therefore must make their own decisions.

Counsellors help young people:
define the problem
think about what's important
figure out what to do next
express their feelings and needs
tap into their own strengths and resources
examine unhelpful habits, coping methods, self-defeating beliefs, values and attitudes
gather all the relevant facts
consider different points of view
understand how their behaviour and emotional reactions affect those around them and vice-versa
work out how the caller and others can help
begin to make decisions based on what you've learned
Need more information before you get counselling? Check out:
What to expect when you call?
What to expect when you post?
What does anonymous and confidential mean?