According to the BACP (2010), 'Counselling and psychotherapy are umbrella terms that cover a range of talking therapies. They are delivered by trained practitioners who work with people over a short or long term period to help them bring about effective change or enhance their wellbeing.’

Therapy is time set aside by you and the therapist to look at what has brought you to therapy. This might include talking about life events, (past and present), feelings, emotions, relationships, ways of thinking and patterns of behaviour. The therapist will do their best to help you to look at your issues, and to identify the right course of action for you, either to help you resolve your difficulties or help you find ways of coping.

Talking about these things may take time, and will not necessarily all be covered in one session. You may want the number of sessions to be limited, and so it is best to discuss this in advance, for example, CBT or solution-focused therapy might work towards a maximum of between 6 - 12 sessions. Others prefer a more relaxed and organic approach to their therapy, and may choose to have it spanning over several months or even years.