Counselling is often used when someone wants support with a current life challenge, stressful situation, or specific concern. It may focus more on the present and help a person talk through their feelings, understand their options, make decisions, solve problems, and develop practical coping strategies. Counselling can be helpful for stress, grief, burnout, parenting concerns, relationship difficulties, work or school challenges, life transitions, loneliness, self-esteem, and feeling overwhelmed. Common counselling approaches may include supportive counselling, Solution-Focused Therapy, psychoeducation, strengths-based work, coping-skills development, problem-solving strategies, mindfulness, and elements of CBT or DBT skills. Counselling may be shorter-term, more goal-focused, and practical in nature, although it can also be ongoing depending on the person’s needs. Counselling is offered by qualified professionals such as Registered Social Workers, psychotherapists, counsellors, psychologists, and other trained mental health professionals, depending on their education, registration, scope of practice, and jurisdiction.
