What is a counsellor?

A counsellor is a person trained to help you or someone you know with concerns or problems such as anxiety, depression, grief or relationship difficulties. They aim to help you resolve your problems in a positive way by helping you to clarify the issues, explore options, develop strategies and increase self-awareness. Sessions are generally held one-on-one with you or with your partner or children. Group counselling is also available.

There is no law in Australia that requires a person who provides a counselling service to have either qualifications or experience. This means that people without training or skills can call themselves counsellors or psychotherapists.

The Australian Registry of Counsellors and Psychotherapists is  the independent, national register of qualified counsellors and psychotherapists in Australia. All practitioners listed on the ARCAP Register have completed professional qualifications in counselling or psychotherapy, meet ongoing professional development requirements, and abide by the ethical guidelines of the profession. You can use this site to check if your counsellor is registered.

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