Find a Counsellor near you
The average rating for Bark Counsellors is 4.92, based on 118,997 reviews
5/5
based on 118,997 reviews
Life isn’t always plain sailing. There may be recent issues or even things you have experienced in your past that are causing you emotional difficulties.
One of the best ways to work through things is by starting counselling sessions, which offer a confidential and unbiased ear. While it’s possible to attend counselling in person, many people are turning to online counselling instead.
If you are considering starting counselling online, here is a guide on what to expect.
Abuse
Addiction
Anxiety
Bullying
Childhood issues
Depression
Eating disorders
Grief
Low self-esteem
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Relationships
The above is just a snapshot of some common issues, as counselling covers an incredibly broad spectrum. Some counsellors may only specialise in certain areas such as addiction or grief, though everything you need to know will be stated on their profile before you hire them.
Sometimes it’s just not possible to have a counselling session in person, particularly if you have accessibility issues or live in a rural area. Plus, some clients are unable to travel to a session for health reasons. Travelling to a session also takes time out of your day and will cost money too, especially if you want to see a specialist in your field who doesn’t live locally. For this reason, online counselling can be extremely beneficial to a wide range of people.
What’s important is not how you access counselling, but that you do so when you need it most. Counsellors are not only fully qualified and experienced, they offer a caring and non-judgmental ear to help you with whatever you are facing. Compared with bottling things up and trying to carry on, it’s incredibly worthwhile to talk through how you are feeling with someone you can trust.
Also, a counsellor acts as a neutral party. Even if family and friends mean well, they aren’t always qualified to give sound judgment. A counsellor on the other hand allows you to step outside of yourself for a moment to gain new perspectives so that you can develop the tools you need to process what’s happened and move forward.
Online counselling is carried out either through video chat, a voice call or it can be text-based too. It all comes down to what you feel most comfortable with. It can be helpful to have sessions over video chat specifically because then you can read each other's expressions more clearly.
Your counsellor will have a range of sessions available that you can view and book online yourself. Or, you can email them directly to ask about their availability.
There are thousands of online counsellors available on Bark, so you’ll have plenty of options to help you choose the right person. It can help to narrow down the professional based on which issues they treat and their approach to sessions which they will describe on their profile.
Once you’ve selected someone, you’ll normally receive a free consultation or a no-obligation introductory session. This is your chance to explain what you’d like help with and see how well you gel with each other.
If the counsellor has any reviews, testimonials, blog posts, publications or videos this can be handy to check out too.
If you’ve never experienced counselling before, it’s normal to feel apprehensive. Remember - your counsellor will have likely helped hundreds if not thousands of people in their career, so they know how to support you through every step of the way.
You don’t have to tell anyone you are starting counselling. None of what you say in the session will be discussed elsewhere.
Even if you’d pictured meeting in person, online counselling is still incredibly worthwhile. The counsellor is a professional and will uphold the same standards regardless of how you communicate.
The average rating for Bark Counsellors is 4.92, based on 118,997 reviews
5/5
based on 118,997 reviews
Want to speak to a counsellor but not sure of the cost? Read our handy guide to find out how much you can expect to pay for different types of counselling therapy throughout the UK, as well as how to keep costs down if you’re on a budget.
