At a time when the awareness and need for mental health services have begun to rise, a question needs to be addressed.

When does counselling fail, and what can we do about it?

We often hear people claim that counselling or therapy is ineffective. While these are personal opinions, they highlight the issue that counselling might not meet the needs of every individual. But why is that?

Many people go to therapy expecting quick solutions to their problems. They believe that a counsellor can provide immediate closure to that very issue, and they can go along with their daily lives like they used to. However, this is where the initial issue arises: unrealistic expectations people have about what a counselling session will entail.

Counselling is not a one-stop solution for life’s problems; instead, it is a safe space for clients and counsellors to explore the best course of action together. It requires active participation, commitment, and time from the client and the counsellor.

A session is not just a simple back-and-forth conversation where the counsellor provides answers or fixes problems directly. Instead, it involves collaboratively exploring emotions, identifying patterns, and developing strategies to address underlying issues.

Another reason why counselling proves unsuccessful for many is simply and, unfortunately, due to the financial condition they are in. For many working-class people, seeking help through counselling is an expensive endure, not because they can’t afford it but because counselling requires a long-term commitment.

Counseling can last weeks, months, or even years, depending on the individual case. A continuous financial investment over an extended period often proves to be a significant burden. This is why many often choose to end therapy prematurely, not because they don’t see its value but because they simply cannot sustain the cost over time.

Without the necessary duration to fully address and work through the issues, therapy may not produce the expected results, leading the clients and other individuals to perceive it as ineffective. This shows the need for counselling services to be affordable, especially for people who might need them more in the first place. But this also shows how therapy is a long-term process, and premature termination often prevents clients from making any significant progress.

An important factor that causes counselling to fail is the counsellors’ competency. Perhaps one of the most important aspects is that whether or not an individual can improve largely depends on whether or not the counsellor handling such a case is competent.

Inexperienced or poorly trained counsellors often need more skills to handle complex cases. Most cases turn out to be complex because people usually seek counselling after going through callous times, often as a last resort. So, treating such individuals by incompetent counsellors can be particularly ineffective and might even worsen their problems.

Effective therapy relies on a counsellor's ability to understand and address complex issues, provide appropriate guidance, and adapt to their client's needs. And that is precisely what poorly trained counsellors need to improve. Simply, they lack the necessary skills or even the knowledge of various therapeutic techniques they can use in their client’s case, which, in turn, only risks their client's mental health.

Finally, the main factor determining whether or not counselling works is the individual seeking it in the first place. Counselling will always be ineffective if it is forced. You can’t force someone to engage in therapy and make changes they don’t want.

Counselling is ineffective if the person isn't genuinely interested in it. Therapy only works when someone recognises their need for help and actively seeks assistance from skilled counsellors. Consider this: would you want to attend therapy if you were never inclined to? You might go to a few sessions, but your mind would always be elsewhere. For such individuals, treatment won't be successful.

But what if you do want to seek help? Where do you find the right counsellors? You have to look beyond the noise of social media. You might come across many organisations that provide counselling services, but you also have to look beyond what they speak about themselves and look at the counsellors themselves.

In the end, what matters is the genuine effort and participation put forward by both the counsellor and the client. It is about trust, understanding and commitment. Seek recommendations from suitable sources and pick your counsellors. And, if you feel like the counsellor is not the proper fight, don’t hesitate to seek someone else. After all, your mental well-being is more important than sticking with the counsellor that doesn’t feel right. So, explore, choose and prioritise your mental health above all else.