Choosing a counsellor can be very difficult. It will hopefully be a relationship which may go on for quite a period of time, and which requires trust, understanding, and a certain level of skill and knowledge to enable you to work on the sensitive issues which are of most concern to you.
It may be that you are just wanting a few sessions to work on a particular issue which has occurred, or you may be wanting to work on more long-standing core issues of yours. Either way, it is important to take time to find the right counsellor. The success of the counselling you receive is dependent upon the quality of the relationship you develop with your therapist, and so this should be your guide. Listen to your gut instinct about a counsellor you contact, and make sure that it feels ok to you. Counselling as an activity doesn’t fit in the normal range of people’s experiences, and so it is normal to feel slightly nervous about starting your therapeutic journey. You can help by giving some time to thinking about what you want from the process, and by giving yourself permission to feel nervous or unsure, and also I would encourage you to be honest with your counsellor about any reservations you may have, as this actually helps not hinders the process.
If you are wanting to do longer term work, I always recommend that you book an initial appointment with 3 different counsellors. Give them a try and see which one suits you best. Maybe try different genders, or different types of therapy to see if you prefer one over the other. If a counsellor you ring is not happy with this arrangement, it may be that they are not putting your considerations first, or have insecurities of their own about being compared with others. However, I would be more than happy to have you try this out. Also, do not be afraid of asking potential counsellors any questions which you may have- they are usually happy to oblige.
James Barrott 