There are many benefits to counselling, and each individual client determines their personal goals. Benefits may be an increased ability to live more effectively by improving your ability to cope with life pressures, family relationships & friendships. You may also gain better understanding of yourself, your goals and values that will assist you in your personal growth and career goals. Therapy can help a person gain new understanding about themselves, their relationships, and how it is currently assisting or hindering them in achieving their goals. Therapy allows a person to learn new ways of coping and solving their own identified problems. Therapy can help a person develop new skills and to change behaviour patterns that aren’t working for them. Therapy can contribute to improved ability to cope with stress and difficult situations and can increase understanding of self and others. There are risks to the therapeutic process. Counselling may involve the risk of remembering unpleasant events and may arouse strong emotions and feelings.