We all worry, and sometimes worrying can be helpful (like reminding us to prepare for an exam or a presentation at work). But sometimes we get stuck, and negative thoughts and feelings start to affect our daily lives. And, for some people, worrying can feel overwhelming. Everyone feels sad or anxious from time to time, and these feelings usually pass on their own. But life keeps presenting us with new challenges, and sometimes these can be hard to deal with.  

Counselling can help anyone going through a difficult time or dealing with emotional difficulties - you don't need to be in crisis or have a diagnosed mental health condition. You might find counselling helpful if you are: 

• feeling sad, anxious, or hopeless 
• putting everyone else’s needs before your own 
• feeling overwhelmed or unable to cope with your emotions 
• experiencing big changes in your mood or behaviour 
• finding it hard to manage stress or cope with life events 
• lacking a sense of purpose 
• wanting to understand what stops you from making the changes you’d like to make. 

Counselling is a positive way to work through unresolved issues by helping you reflect on your situation and better understand your problems. Sharing your thoughts and feelings with someone trained to listen can often help you clearly see what you need to do about a situation that’s causing you worry or pain. Sometimes, simply telling your story is enough to bring some relief - for example, when dealing with grief or loss, just talking about those painful feelings can help. Other times, you might need to explore your feelings more deeply to understand them better. What happens in your counselling sessions will depend on what you bring to talk about and what works best for you.