Individual Counselling
How individual counselling looks can vary greatly depending on what you bring in to work on, the therapist’s modality, and what you are looking to get from counselling. Some factors are consistently present in individual therapy. It is a one-on-one approach wherein emphasis is placed on building a safe and trusting relationship where clients can feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings without fear of judgement. As such, it is important to find a counsellor with whom you feel comfortable opening up. This trust can take some time to develop, but ultimately it is up to you to decide whether or not it is a good fit.
Some of the benefits of individual counselling include:
Every client comes in with something different, but a few benefits tend to come up again and again:
- A dedicated space to work through whatever’s on your mind, without needing to filter it for anyone else
- Better tools for managing anxiety, depression, or fears that are affecting your daily life
- Support processing trauma or difficult past experiences at your own pace
- Stronger assertiveness and boundaries in your relationships and daily life
- A clearer sense of who you are and what you actually want, separate from other people’s expectations
- Ongoing, consistent support that adapts as your needs change over time
Techniques Used and How They Help
Your therapist will draw on the approach that fits you best, which may include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), for identifying and shifting unhelpful thought patterns
- Person-centered therapy, which keeps sessions focused on your experience, at your pace
- EMDR, often used for processing trauma and distressing memories
- Internal family systems (IFS), which helps you understand and work with different parts of yourself
Where Individual Counselling Fits With Other Support
Individual counselling often works well on its own or alongside other types of sessions. If relationship issues are also part of the picture, our couples counselling page covers what that looks like. If cost is a concern, our post-practicum interns page explains a more affordable way to get started. No Fear Counselling offers individual counselling in person and online across Vancouver, Burnaby, Coquitlam, and Surrey.
Many clients start with individual sessions and later add couples or family sessions once they’ve built a foundation of their own.
Contact No Fear Counselling
If you’re ready to start individual counselling, contact No Fear Counselling or book a consultation to get matched with a therapist who fits what you’re working through.
You don’t need a specific diagnosis or crisis to start. Many people begin individual counselling simply because they want to understand themselves better or feel more in control of their day-to-day life.
References:
Wakefield, S., Kellett, S., Simmonds-Buckley, M., Stockton, D., Bradbury, A., & Delgadillo, J. (2022). The effectiveness of psychological interventions delivered in routine practice: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research.