How Do I Choose the Right Counsellor?

Choosing a counsellor can feel like quite a lot of pressure when you're already carrying something difficult. There's a bewildering number of people out there with varying qualifications, different approaches, and very similar-sounding websites. It's not always obvious how to tell them apart.

So here's a practical guide to what actually matters — and what you can afford to be less worried about.

Start with registration, not qualifications

Counselling in the UK is not a legally protected profession in the same way that medicine or nursing is. In theory, anyone can call themselves a counsellor without any training at all. This makes professional registration more important than it might otherwise be.

Look for a counsellor who is registered with the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) or UKCP. Registration means the person has met a minimum standard of training, holds professional indemnity insurance, is subject to an ethical framework, and has a complaints process you can access if you need it. It's the basic floor below which you don't want to go.

BACP Accredited status is a step above basic membership — it means the counsellor has demonstrated a higher level of training and supervised practice. It's a useful signal but not essential, especially for a newer counsellor with solid qualifications and good supervision.

Then think about approach

There are quite a few different therapeutic approaches, and people often feel they need to choose the right one before they've even started. In practice, the relationship with the counsellor tends to matter more than the specific model they use. But it's still worth knowing the broad differences.

Person-centred counselling — the approach I use — works from the principle that you are the expert on your own experience. The counsellor's job is to provide a space where you can think clearly and feel genuinely heard, not to analyse you, diagnose you, or direct the conversation towards their own conclusions. It tends to suit people who want to understand themselves better rather than be given strategies and tools.

CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) is more structured and skills-based, focusing on the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviour. It can be useful for specific problems where you want practical techniques — anxiety management, for example.

There are many other approaches — psychodynamic, integrative, EMDR for trauma — and the right one depends partly on what you're dealing with and partly on what kind of space you want.

Specialism matters for some things, less for others

If you're dealing with something specific — trauma, bereavement, pregnancy loss, eating difficulties — it can be worth looking for a counsellor with specific training or experience in that area. For more general difficulties, like anxiety, low mood, or a sense that something isn't quite right, most trained counsellors will be well equipped to work with you.

Don't be afraid to ask about experience. A good counsellor won't be defensive about that question. "Have you worked with people dealing with X?" is a completely reasonable thing to ask before committing to sessions.

Where to look

The BACP therapist directory at bacp.co.uk is the most reliable place to start. You can search by location, specialism, and approach, and every listing has been through a registration check. Counselling Directory is also widely used and lets you filter in similar ways.

For in-person counselling in Liverpool, a local search will surface practitioners in Anfield, Kirkdale, Walton, and across Merseyside. Online counselling opens things up considerably — the counsellor doesn't need to be geographically close to you, which can matter if you live somewhere more rural or want access to a specific specialism.

Fit matters more than anything else

Research consistently shows that the relationship between client and counsellor — what's sometimes called the therapeutic alliance — is one of the strongest predictors of a good outcome. More than the specific approach. More than the number of letters after the person's name.

What that means in practice is that how you feel talking to someone matters. Does this person seem genuinely present? Do they make sense to you? Can you imagine being honest with them about difficult things? Do you feel like you'd be listened to rather than assessed?

None of those things are unreasonable to want. If you have an initial conversation with a counsellor and something feels off — the tone, the way they respond, the vibe of the conversation — trust that. Not every counsellor is right for every person, and the fact that someone is professionally qualified doesn't mean they're the right fit for you specifically.

A word about cost

Counselling fees vary quite a bit. The average for a private counsellor in the UK is somewhere around £50–£70 per session, though it varies by location and experience. Many counsellors offer reduced rates for people on low incomes, students, or NHS workers — it's always worth asking.

If cost is a significant barrier, it's worth exploring NHS IAPT services (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies), though waiting lists can be long. Some charities and community organisations also offer low-cost or free counselling for specific groups or issues.

For what it's worth: my sessions are £50, with a reduced rate of £40 for anyone who needs it. I'd rather someone had access to support than felt they couldn't afford it.

The short version

Check they're registered. Have a brief conversation before committing. Pay attention to how you feel talking to them. Everything else is secondary.

If you'd like to get a sense of whether working with me might be right for you, the free 20-minute chat exists for exactly that. No pressure, no obligation — just a chance to talk and see.