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Talking therapy and counselling

Disclaimer:

This publication is based on a Mind UK publication and the original version may be found here: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/a-z-mental-health/

Thank you to Mind UK for sharing their valuable content with us. Content included in Mental Health A-Z is made available free of charge and does not form part of any commercial activity. The adaptation has been done independently by Mind HK and is intended for general information purposes only.

What is therapy like? 

It’s common to feel worried or unsure about what to expect from therapy. This section explains what to expect. 

Who might my therapist be? 

Your therapist might describe themselves in various ways, such as: 

  • a counsellor 
  • a psychological wellbeing practitioner/officer
  • a therapist (or psychotherapist) 
  • a psychologist (or clinical psychologist) 
  • a psychiatrist. 

 

All of these titles should mean that the person you see is trained in delivering therapy, although they will differ in their educational backgrounds and levels of training. 

 

But whatever their title and level of training, it matters that the person delivering your therapy is someone you feel comfortable talking to. 

See the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) factsheet on choosing a counsellor or psychotherapist for more information on the differences between different types of therapist. 

Checking your therapist’s credentials 

It’s good practice for any therapist to be a registered member of one or more professional bodies. This means they have signed up to meet certain standards of practice. 

Ask your therapist about their professional qualifications, training and membership body. You can usually double check this through the membership body’s website. 

 

What will happen the first time I see a therapist? 

Some therapists might call your first session an ‘assessment’, a ‘taster session’, a ‘consultation’ or an ‘intake session’, but these generally involve the same thing. In this session, you and your therapist might discuss: 

 

  • The type of therapy they practice 
  • How long the therapy will last and what the sessions will be like 
  • What you want to get out of the therapy 
  • Their confidentiality policy 
  • What to do if you / they have to cancel a session or you miss a session 
  • If there is any cost involved (this usually applies to private therapy) 
  • Any concerns or worries you have about the therapy. 

If you’re unsure about any of these it’s ok to ask your therapist questions at any time before, during or after your sessions. For more information on what to expect in your first session see the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong’s website (only available in Chinese), or the BACP factsheet on what happens in your first session with your therapist. 

“My first session was a bit of a blur – I had no clue what to say. I think I mainly just cried and apologised! But it got easier over time when I realised that my counsellor wasn’t going to laugh at me or tell me to go away.”

 

What might sessions be like after that? 

How sessions are structured can vary depending on depending on the type of therapy you’re getting and the type of problem you want help with. 

Therapy can be: 

  • time-limited, meaning your therapy will come to an end after a set number of sessions.
  • open-ended, meaning it can continue for as long as you need it. This is something that is more commonly offered by private therapists. 

Sessions can be delivered:

  • individually, with just you and your therapist 
  • in a group with others who are having the same therapy 
  • with your partner or family members
  • in a combination of individual and group sessions. 

One-to-one sessions typically last between 50 minutes and an hour, but group sessions can sometimes be longer. It’s common for sessions to be held once a week, but you might also agree to see your therapist more or less often than this. 

Sessions may take place: 

  • in an appropriate meeting room owned or rented by your therapist (or by the organisation providing the therapy, such as the Hospital Authority, a charity or place of education) 
  • over the phone or online using an internet calling software 
  • at your therapist’s office or home, if you’re having private therapy. 

What you might cover in therapy sessions also varies. For example, your therapist may go through specific exercises with you, or you might have a more general discussion about how you’re feeling. They may ask you questions about: 

  • your current and past relationships 
  • your childhood and past experiences 
  • situations or events you find difficult 
  • how you feel 
  • how you behave 
  • what you think about things 
  • issues that have come up in previous sessions. 

But it’s important to remember that you don’t have to talk about anything you’re not ready to talk about, or do anything you don’t want to do. (See our page on getting the most from therapy for more tips.) 

Will everything I tell my therapist be confidential? 

In most cases, yes. Confidentiality is an important part of building trust with your therapist. However, there are some exceptions to this, which allow the therapist to work responsibly. 

These are: 

  • Supervision – therapists always discuss clients regularly with a supervisor (another experienced therapist) who also has to maintain confidentiality. It’s seen as unethical for a therapist to work without supervision because: 

o it helps your therapist look after their own mental health, so they’re better able to support you 

o it means someone else is aware of how your therapist is treating you, to make sure it’s appropriate. 

  • Safety – if your therapist is concerned that you’re at serious risk of harming yourself or someone else, they may need to inform your family doctor, a healthcare professional or someone else. They should tell you first if they’re going to do this. 
  • Organisational confidentiality – if your therapist is part of a medical practice, confidentiality may apply to the practice as a whole rather than to the individual therapist. This may mean that information is available to your family doctor. Your therapist should tell you if this is the case. 

 

How will I feel after a therapy session? 

It’s common to feel a range of emotions after a session. For example, you might come out of your session feeling: 

  • relieved, if you’ve shared something important and felt heard and understood. 
  • energised, if you’ve started to understand something new about yourself or set yourself a new goal to work on 
  • exhausted, if you’ve found the session challenging or hard work 
  • frustrated, if you didn’t get what you wanted out of your session or haven’t felt heard or understood 
  • upset or overwhelmed, if the session has brought up very painful or difficult memories or feelings. 

“Some days I left therapy feeling tired and drained. Other days I felt relieved, as if a weight had been lifted.”

Sometimes therapy sessions can bring up feelings that are difficult to cope with, and you might feel nervous about going back, or like you want to quit. If you feel like this it can help to: 

  • Start your next session by telling your therapist how you felt after your last session, and give them a chance to reflect with you and offer support. You might find it helpful to write down some notes. 
  • Talk about how you feel with someone you trust, such as friends or family. 
  • Plan something you enjoy for after immediately each session as a little treat, or to help you relax. 

If you feel unsafe after a session 

If therapy is bringing up feelings that you can’t cope with and you feel like you’re in crisis after a session, contact a crisis service and seek urgent help. 

Some therapists might be able to offer emergency support outside sessions, but many can’t. You should ask them about this during a session, and make sure you know what their boundaries are before calling them in a crisis. 

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What is iACT Service?

Improving Access to Community Therapies (iACT®) is one of the services from Mind HK. Trained Wellbeing Practitioners will offer initial assessment and early intervention for people dealing with mild to moderate symptoms of depression, anxiety, or other emotional difficulties.

 

The service includes 6-8 sessions of low-intensity psychological support, the flexibility of the service allows individuals to receive free and timely support when needed.

If you’re aged between 18 – 65 and are facing some emotional challenges, we would like to invite you to take an online assessment for us to gain a better understanding of your current emotional struggle.

 

If you’re eligible, we’ll get you connected with a Wellbeing Practitioner within two weeks to sort out the next steps.

The service runs for about 3 months and includes 6-8 support sessions, tailored to your needs.

 

We encourage you to attend all sessions and actively practice the tips and exercises provided by your Wellbeing Practitioner.

We take your privacy seriously. Your chats with the Wellbeing Practitioner are confidential.

 

We won’t share any of your info unless you’ve provided consent or if there are risks detected.

This programme isn’t suitable for people facing emergencies, major setbacks, or those diagnosed with serious or complex mental health conditions.

 

If you’re having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, this programme might not meet your needs, so please seek help right away. You can check out Mind HK’s “Find Help Now” page for immediate information and services.

Most of our Wellbeing Practitioners have backgrounds in psychology or counselling and are passionate about mental health. They’ve gone through about 140 hours of intensive training and completed at least 120 hours of supervised clinical practice over 9 months to ensure the quality of service.

 

They’re trained by accredited local experts in the mental health field, including clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists, counsellors, and psychiatrists. Plus, we regularly check how effective our services are. All service outputs and performances are subject to consistent monitoring.

Who is suitable for participating in this programme?

This programme welcomes anyone between the ages of 18 and 65 who may be feeling lost or facing emotional difficulties. Please note that this programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions.

This programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions, but suitable for those who experience mild to severe moderate anxiety, mild to moderate depression, or other emotional challenges. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

After signing up, our Wellbeing Practitioner will contact you within two weeks to schedule a convenient time for a 45-minute conversation, either via video or phone call, according to your preference. During the conversation, the Wellbeing Practitioner will understand your current situation and help you gain a better understanding of your emotional state based on the questionnaire you filled out during application. Additionally, they will provide recommendations for appropriate community resources based on your needs, helping you take an important first step in taking care of your mental health.

Although the intervention procedure is mostly standardised, Wellbeing Practitioners will work flexibly with clients to address individual presenting problems and unique characteristics.

Our Wellbeing Practitioners are trained to support people who experience mild to moderate mental health difficulties primarily. This programme is not suitable for the situations mentioned above. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

Your conversations with the Wellbeing Practitioner are absolutely confidential. Any information about you will not be shared with anyone without your consent unless you or others are at immediate risk or the Wellbeing Practitioner has reason to believe that you may be in imminent danger.
Supervisors will monitor trainees’ development throughout the placement to ensure that they are meeting the required level of competency to pass the training course at the end of the placement.

Yes, it is necessary to book an appointment in advance by filling out the form. Additionally, you can select one of the five stores yourself. We will allocate clients to different Wellbeing Practitioners based on their chosen location.

Before having the conversation, we will ask you to fill out a basic questionnaire for preliminary screening assessment. This screening process aims to ensure that the training received by the Wellbeing Practitioners is sufficient to meet the needs of the individuals receiving the service. If it is determined after the screening assessment that the service is not suitable for you, Mind HK will provide alternative recommendations to ensure your safety and support.

For adults who are suitable for this service, all Wellbeing Practitioners have received training on how to identify and respond to safety and risk issues. If you have any concerns about the support process, the Wellbeing Practitioners have appropriate measures in place and will develop response plans based on the urgency of the situation. They can also access support from clinical practitioners from Mind HK or participating organisations.

What private training does Mind HK provide?

Mind HK provides 4 themes of mental health training, including: Supporting Self, Supporting Others, Family Wellbeing and DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion).

 

Check out the brochure here for more information.

Mind HK provides a wide range of standardised mental health training, which can be tailored to different circumstances. Chat with our team to explore more! 

Our trainers come from a diverse, accredited pool of clinically experienced professionals. Check out our trainers’ biographies here.

Yes, the Mental Health First Aid class of Mind HK is internationally accredited by the MHFA International. The content and certification is delivered by trainers certified from the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong. You can find out our trainers accreditation here.

We are here to support your mental health education journey! Reach out to us and chat with our team.

What is therapy like?

What is therapy like? 

It's common to feel worried or unsure about what to expect from therapy. This section explains what to expect. 

Who might my therapist be? 

Your therapist might describe themselves in various ways, such as: 

  • a counsellor 
  • a psychological wellbeing practitioner/officer
  • a therapist (or psychotherapist) 
  • a psychologist (or clinical psychologist) 
  • a psychiatrist. 

 

All of these titles should mean that the person you see is trained in delivering therapy, although they will differ in their educational backgrounds and levels of training. 

 

But whatever their title and level of training, it matters that the person delivering your therapy is someone you feel comfortable talking to. 

See the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) factsheet on choosing a counsellor or psychotherapist for more information on the differences between different types of therapist. 

Checking your therapist's credentials 

It's good practice for any therapist to be a registered member of one or more professional bodies. This means they have signed up to meet certain standards of practice. 

Ask your therapist about their professional qualifications, training and membership body. You can usually double check this through the membership body's website. 

 

What will happen the first time I see a therapist? 

Some therapists might call your first session an 'assessment', a 'taster session', a 'consultation' or an 'intake session', but these generally involve the same thing. In this session, you and your therapist might discuss: 

 

  • The type of therapy they practice 
  • How long the therapy will last and what the sessions will be like 
  • What you want to get out of the therapy 
  • Their confidentiality policy 
  • What to do if you / they have to cancel a session or you miss a session 
  • If there is any cost involved (this usually applies to private therapy) 
  • Any concerns or worries you have about the therapy. 

If you're unsure about any of these it's ok to ask your therapist questions at any time before, during or after your sessions. For more information on what to expect in your first session see the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong’s website (only available in Chinese), or the BACP factsheet on what happens in your first session with your therapist. 

“My first session was a bit of a blur – I had no clue what to say. I think I mainly just cried and apologised! But it got easier over time when I realised that my counsellor wasn't going to laugh at me or tell me to go away.”

 

What might sessions be like after that? 

How sessions are structured can vary depending on depending on the type of therapy you're getting and the type of problem you want help with. 

Therapy can be: 

  • time-limited, meaning your therapy will come to an end after a set number of sessions.
  • open-ended, meaning it can continue for as long as you need it. This is something that is more commonly offered by private therapists. 

Sessions can be delivered:

  • individually, with just you and your therapist 
  • in a group with others who are having the same therapy 
  • with your partner or family members
  • in a combination of individual and group sessions. 

One-to-one sessions typically last between 50 minutes and an hour, but group sessions can sometimes be longer. It's common for sessions to be held once a week, but you might also agree to see your therapist more or less often than this. 

Sessions may take place: 

  • in an appropriate meeting room owned or rented by your therapist (or by the organisation providing the therapy, such as the Hospital Authority, a charity or place of education) 
  • over the phone or online using an internet calling software 
  • at your therapist's office or home, if you're having private therapy. 

What you might cover in therapy sessions also varies. For example, your therapist may go through specific exercises with you, or you might have a more general discussion about how you're feeling. They may ask you questions about: 

  • your current and past relationships 
  • your childhood and past experiences 
  • situations or events you find difficult 
  • how you feel 
  • how you behave 
  • what you think about things 
  • issues that have come up in previous sessions. 

But it's important to remember that you don't have to talk about anything you're not ready to talk about, or do anything you don't want to do. (See our page on getting the most from therapy for more tips.) 

Will everything I tell my therapist be confidential? 

In most cases, yes. Confidentiality is an important part of building trust with your therapist. However, there are some exceptions to this, which allow the therapist to work responsibly. 

These are: 

  • Supervision – therapists always discuss clients regularly with a supervisor (another experienced therapist) who also has to maintain confidentiality. It's seen as unethical for a therapist to work without supervision because: 

o it helps your therapist look after their own mental health, so they're better able to support you 

o it means someone else is aware of how your therapist is treating you, to make sure it's appropriate. 

  • Safety – if your therapist is concerned that you're at serious risk of harming yourself or someone else, they may need to inform your family doctor, a healthcare professional or someone else. They should tell you first if they're going to do this. 
  • Organisational confidentiality – if your therapist is part of a medical practice, confidentiality may apply to the practice as a whole rather than to the individual therapist. This may mean that information is available to your family doctor. Your therapist should tell you if this is the case. 

 

How will I feel after a therapy session? 

It's common to feel a range of emotions after a session. For example, you might come out of your session feeling: 

  • relieved, if you've shared something important and felt heard and understood. 
  • energised, if you've started to understand something new about yourself or set yourself a new goal to work on 
  • exhausted, if you've found the session challenging or hard work 
  • frustrated, if you didn't get what you wanted out of your session or haven't felt heard or understood 
  • upset or overwhelmed, if the session has brought up very painful or difficult memories or feelings. 

"Some days I left therapy feeling tired and drained. Other days I felt relieved, as if a weight had been lifted."

Sometimes therapy sessions can bring up feelings that are difficult to cope with, and you might feel nervous about going back, or like you want to quit. If you feel like this it can help to: 

  • Start your next session by telling your therapist how you felt after your last session, and give them a chance to reflect with you and offer support. You might find it helpful to write down some notes. 
  • Talk about how you feel with someone you trust, such as friends or family. 
  • Plan something you enjoy for after immediately each session as a little treat, or to help you relax. 

If you feel unsafe after a session 

If therapy is bringing up feelings that you can't cope with and you feel like you're in crisis after a session, contact a crisis service and seek urgent help. 

Some therapists might be able to offer emergency support outside sessions, but many can't. You should ask them about this during a session, and make sure you know what their boundaries are before calling them in a crisis.