Some readers of this article may have had experiences where counselling was harmful or know stories of counsellors who were unethical or incompetent. Counselling requires that you feel safe to talk about important and private parts of yourself. While there is no procedure that guarantees to identify the perfect counsellor there are things that can be done to increase the chances of finding a counsellor who will be helpful. It is important that a counsellor meet minimal standards. When faced with serious problems, counsellors who are not properly trained can cause damage even though they try to be helpful.
Standards vary in different provinces.
Many do not license counsellors but, where they do, the first standard that should be examined is licensing. This assures that the counsellor has met the government's requirements for education and experience, and that the counsellor has not been found to have violated ethical standards sufficiently to have his or her licence revoked. Membership in a professional association. As you choose a counsellor, especially in a province that does not license counsellors, it is important to ask about membership in professional organizations. Professional organizations such as the Canadian Psychological Association, American Counseling Association, American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists or Christian Association for Psychological Studies not only have requirements for education and training but generally have higher ethical standards than licensing boards.