Why Go to a Counsellor? Attitudes to, and Knowledge of Counselling in Australia, 2002

Abstract

Knowledge about, and attitudes to counselling and counsellors were surveyed in 226 participants representative of the general public in northern New South Wales and the Gold Coast of Queensland, Australia. As well as information about the training required, types of treatment offered, familiarity with a counselor, benefits and drawbacks of counselling, and issues of cost, professionalism and registration, participants were also asked whether they had sought, or would ever seek the assistance of a counselor, and what it was that counsellors did that could be of benefit to participants. Data indicated that the sample considered that counsellors’ primary roles were listening, supporting, and helping to solve problems. About 80% of all participants thought there needed to be more counsellors, and 79% stated that they would be willing to pay for a counsellor’s services. A series of questions asked participants to make some comparisons between counsellors, psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers on issues such as: communicative ability, whether they would refer a friend in need, type of treatment offered, and what specific problems were best treated by each of the four professionals. Overall, counselors were most likely to be consulted for 13 of 20 presenting problems. Issues of professional training and recognition are discussed. Mental disorders account for about 13% of the total national disease burden in Australia (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2002), with one in five Australians suffering from a mental disorder. Sixty percent of persons who seek help for a mental disorder receive counselling, the same percent as are treated with medication. Whereas 24% of those who receive counselling report that they want more of it, only 12% of those who received medication want more of that treatment.