Client Feedback

What do people say about counselling?

At the PF we seek feedback from all our clients after their counselling has finished. These are a selection of the comments we have received this year.  They are the actual words of the client, used with their permission.

“I didn’t really know what to expect, and it felt a little strange to begin with – being the centre of attention and having someone listen, really listen. It took a little bit of getting used to! But not in a bad way, if that makes sense? Being given such attention, and experiencing such empathy, helped me to open up further. I had a real sense of never being judged, of being welcome and accepted.”

“Counselling helped me to make some big and very necessary life decisions, which have benefited my emotional and physical health enormously; to be able to think through things and see them a bit more clearly. I also learnt to better identify feelings and emotions.”

“Counselling gave me the tools to rebuild my life from a more or less ‘rock bottom’ state, to the point at which I am now; where I am able to function on a day-to-day basis and my depression and anxiety hold much smaller parts in my own sense of self.”

“I trusted my counsellor and counselling gave me the stability that I struggle to hold with the rest of my life. It was like travelling to a far away country, but in my mind. She showed me she cared about me. She never left me behind. She was very reliable, understanding, positive, patient, professional, encouraging, caring, and funny.  I felt like a priority. This meant a lot.”

“In the beginning I wasn’t sure if counselling was for me. I thought I was a smarty-pants who knew everything, and that just saying what I was feeling wouldn’t be beneficial, but I thought I’d try it as it was a dark period in my life. Now I can say with certainty that I am a better, more equipped and emotionally stronger person. My counsellor listened to me without judgement or question, she challenged me to think hard at times when I was not able to see another perspective, and supported me when I needed it. She has been patient, understanding, kind and warm and I formed a very trusting bond with her.”

“It’s made me more confident. It’s made me see the things we talked about as valid rather than something I’m overreacting to. It’s enabled me to contextualise what I’m feeling and avoid spiralling into old, negative behaviour loops.”