These are a few of the questions most commonly asked about our counselling and training services. The list isn’t exhaustive, and if there are any questions you’d like to ask, do feel free to contact us on our enquiries email address.
Q: How can a counsellor help me?
A: Counsellors are not there to simply give you answers, but to help you explore the questions you are asking, and develop your own answers. To do this, they need life experience, empathy, and training: our Counsellors have worked with people in all walks of life, ages, personalities and cultures: students, civil servants, educational professionals, the socially excluded, terminally ill, severely depressed, people with specific needs – be it physical or learning, borderline personality disorders and men and women from different religions and sexualities.
You can be sure that, if you decide to see an Adlerian counsellor, you will be working with someone who is professional, ethical, and responsible, and who is prepared to do their best to help you with your difficulties.
For more information about people who have been helped see the Personal Recommendations page. Or if you wish to see if there is an Adlerian Counsellor in your area go to Links.
Q: What I want to come for counselling?
A: The first stage is to telephone or talk to someone at the Centre, who will make an initial assessment of your needs. Depending on which is most appropriate, you will then be referred to a qualified professional, whom you can see at the Centre or in their own private practice, or you may wish to take advantage of our low-cost counselling serviced by our Diploma Students who are under professional Supervision. This counselling will take place at the Centre.
A counselling session usually lasts 50 minutes or an hour and it will be up to you and your counsellor to decide how many sessions you want to take. We find that a lot of our clients seem to work with us for 6-12 weeks but some come for a one-off session and some longer, either weekly, fortnightly or some other arrangement.
Confidentiality is ensured between client and counsellor according to the BACP Ethical Framework. If you wish to know more about the Counselling Process go to Counselling.
Q: I want to train as a counsellor – what qualifications do I need?
A: We accept people onto our training courses irrespective of their school or academic record. The skills required to become a counsellor are not specifically academic, and the best way we can see if you are suitable are for you to come for interview, where we can discuss your motivation for wanting to train, and your suitability. Counselling isn’t for everyone, and we feel it is important to make sure that anyone who wants to train knows what they are letting themselves in for, and what will be required of them.
The generally accepted route to becoming a counsellor is to do a reputable Introduction to Counselling Course which consists of between 20-30 hours of training and is open entry. Suitable students can then advance to the next stage which is the Certificate Course and then finally the Diploma Course which qualifies you to practice as a professional counsellor.
Q: Can I train to be an Adlerian counsellor if I have a disability?
A: YES. The Adlerian Centre in Narberth has disabled access and toilet facilities and also is linked to accessing computer aid and written support for its students.
Q: I already have a counselling qualification – how can I train to be an Adlerian counsellor?
A: If you hold a Certificate in another approach, you can do our Access course, which is a 30 hour course (see Introduction to Adlerian Counselling) and which will qualify suitable applicants to apply for the Diploma in Adlerian Counselling.
Q: I am not a counsellor, but can I come on an Adlerian course just out of interest?
A: YES. With a few exceptions, most of our courses are open to non-counsellors, and some are specifically aimed at people who are not trained as counsellors. Our Introduction to Counselling courses are very popular with people just wanting to find out a little more about both Adlerian counselling and themselves, and many people go on from there to pursue things further. Many of our Saturday training days are also suitable for non-counsellors, so you would be welcome to sign up for those. Do please check to confirm the level of knowledge expected before you sign up, though.
