An assessment for counselling is a collaborative process in which a client and counsellor decide whether to continue having further counselling sessions. Your active participation in this process is not just crucial, it’s integral. Your insights and perspectives help me understand your needs, goals, and readiness for further counselling. Every ethical and professional counsellor must assess their client before individual counselling begins, and your role in this is significant.
How does it work?
I perform my assessments with people interested in working with me in counselling. We will meet for an initial session, free of charge, lasting between 30 minutes and an hour. This happens online or by telephone. I am interested in hearing your story, told how you want to tell it. Our assessment is not about tests or forms, it’s about a conversation. A conversation where you can share as much or as little as you’re comfortable with. Things I would like to know include:
- What is(are) your current problem(s)?
- Have you had counselling before?
- Your occupation, relationship status, children, medical health.
- Why have you chosen counselling now?
- What do you hope to gain from counselling … and what your goals/achievements might be when the counselling is completed.
- Some historical information (eg your first memory)
- A conversation about your family.
- A conversation about your work education.
- A conversation about your support networks.
- Contact details
- GP details
- A discussion about if we both think if counselling might be helpful for you, or maybe to refer you to another therapy.
I will discuss with you about my approach to counselling and answer questions about my qualifications and ethical approach. I’ll talk with you about confidentiality and how it effects you, about where the law requires I disclose information (such as serious criminal activity, intended harm to yourself and/or others, or the Children’s Act) and that I will discuss with you before I make such disclosures. I will also inform you about my supervision arrangements.
After the talk
At the end of the assessment we should both have a better understanding of if we think we can work together, if counselling might be a helpful process for you to go through (together), and what will be the focus of our counselling work. If we’re both happy to go ahead, I will send you a copy of the contract for us both to sign. Contracts, like assessments, are a useful and ethical way of working.