ABSTRACT

Counselling can take many forms (such as Person-Centred, Existential and Humanistic) but, at its heart, it is based upon the `core conditions' of genuineness, empathy and a non-judgemental attitude (Rogers 1951). In practice, this means that a counsellor will strive to provide you with a relationship in which you do much of the talking. The counsellor, in turn, will listen and comment on what you have said. Often this may be just to encourage you to say more, or to ask you to re¯ect on your feelings at any given point. It is the counsellor's careful, empathic attention that will help you to re¯ect on your own words and talk about your feelings as they emerge.