ABSTRACT
Sometimes partners in a relationship may consider the best approach is to consult someone who will see them together. The marriage council, now called Relate, is set up for couples counselling. Some private counsellors also specialize in specific areas and usually advertise accordingly. Counsellors should be members of a professional body such as the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy, the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies or the UK Council for Psychotherapy. These organizations have criteria for good practice and required levels of skill which can be identified on their websites. Women counsellors generally outnumber men. The relationship between client and counsellor is unlike any other and best contained strictly within the counselling environment. The atmosphere in an agency can sometimes feel less private than seeing an independent counsellor. Individual private counsellors usually have a preferred way of working according to their training and experience.
