Is Counselling Right for Me If I Don’t Know What’s Wrong?

Sometimes there is a clear reason to seek support: a bereavement, a relationship difficulty or a change you did not expect. At other times, you may simply feel unlike yourself. Perhaps you are more irritable, less confident, unusually tired or finding it hard to enjoy things. You might not know where to begin describing it.

It is common to wonder whether your experience is “serious enough” for counselling. You do not need to fit your feelings into a particular category before making an enquiry. The wish to understand what is happening for you is a valid place to start.

A conversation can begin with small observations: “I keep feeling overwhelmed”, “I feel stuck” or “I’m not sure why I’ve been upset”. You can talk about what has changed, what feels hardest right now or what you find yourself thinking about. There is no script.

In counselling, we can give those experiences time and attention. Sometimes a pattern or a feeling becomes clearer as you speak; sometimes it takes longer. The pace should leave room for your own understanding to develop.

My work can offer a confidential space to explore concerns such as anxiety, stress, low mood, relationships, confidence, loss and life changes. An initial conversation is an opportunity to ask about my approach and consider together whether counselling with me is a good fit.

If you have troubling physical symptoms or are concerned about your health, a GP can help you check what might be going on. Counselling is one possible source of support, and you can seek medical advice alongside it when needed.

You can contact me without having a complete explanation. One or two sentences about how things have been feeling is plenty for an initial enquiry. We can start with where you are now.

For an overview of talking therapies and ways to access them, see NHS talking therapies.