What is a Counsellor?

A Counsellor is a professional who supports people with their emotional wellbeing through talking-based therapy. Counsellors help individuals explore thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a safe, confidential space. They work with adults, children, young people, or families, often focusing on mental health, trauma, life transitions, or relational challenges.

Counselling is often more short-term and focused than other therapeutic approaches, though some counsellors also offer long-term support.

We asked some counsellors about their role. This is what they told us:

Counsellors offer structured sessions to help people make sense of their emotions and develop coping strategies, this might include:

• Seeing clients for one-to-one sessions (in-person or online).
• Supporting parents of neurodivergent children.
• Working with children and teens through schools or private referrals.
• Using reflective listening, questioning, and practical tools to support mental health.
• Writing notes, liaising with other professionals, or undertaking supervision.

Each session is tailored to the client’s needs and often shaped around what they bring on the day.

In the UK, Counsellors usually have a recognised qualification such as:

• A Diploma in Counselling or Psychotherapeutic Counselling.
• Additional specialisms in CBT, family systems, or child and adolescent therapy.

Many are registered with professional bodies such as:

• British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
• UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
• National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS)

These organisations promote ethical practice, supervision, and ongoing CPD (Continuing Professional Development).

Counsellors can play a vital role in supporting PDAers and their families by:

• Offering non-judgemental listening and emotional validation.
• Helping individuals build confidence and understand their own needs.
• Supporting parents to reframe behaviour and reduce shame.
• Providing a space where the PDAer can explore identity and emotional regulation.

Some counsellors also work alongside families to resolve misunderstandings of PDA that have contributed to breakdowns in trust, education, or communication.

The counsellors we spoke to shared several key adaptations:

• Letting the client lead the pace and focus of sessions.
• Using metaphor, humour, or creative language rather than direct questions.
• Offering choice in communication styles, such as visual aids, art, or silence.
• Creating a demand-free environment that feels emotionally and physically safe.
• Allowing breaks, movement, or session changes without penalty or pressure.
• Supporting families with understanding PDA, not just the individual.

They also note that traditional therapy structures often need to be challenged to meet PDAers where they are.

We asked some counsellors this question here is what they said:

“Counselling can help make sense of overwhelming emotions, experiences, and identity. It can build emotional literacy, offer a consistent and trusted relationship, reduce anxiety and isolation, and improve family dynamics when offered alongside parent support”

“Counsellors often provide that safe, steady voice when everything else feels confusing.”

PDAers and their families often tell us how confusing and unsettling it can be to meet new professionals – especially when it’s not clear what their job is or what good support looks like. That’s why we asked professionals themselves to tell us, in their own words, what they do. You’ll find their honest, personal answers in the ‘What professionals do’ section of our site.

This is a growing resource, so if you don’t see the role you’re looking for yet, you could ask the person you’re working with to fill in this short form.

Please note: these insights come from individual professionals, not official organisations, so you might find some variation in how people describe their roles. If you’re wondering whether a service you’ve been offered is the right fit, our guides to finding helpful support can help.