counselling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "counselling" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in contexts related to providing guidance or support, often in a mental health or educational setting. Example: "She decided to seek counselling to help her cope with the stress of her job."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They're the reason that, instead of going to jail, I got one year of counselling.

The Guardian

Primary care physicians tend to prescribe drugs rather than CBT, although some countries, including the UK and Australia, have initiatives intended to increase the availability of counselling.

The Guardian

Alan Percy is head of counselling at the University of Oxford and media spokesperson for the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy: Universities and Colleges.

The Guardian

(3) None of the first four sentences end with exclamation marks, although the last sentence of the article does end with four!!!! (4) Andy Burrows told one journalist he had turned to drink and counselling because he was "all out of coping mechanisms".

The Guardian - Music

After using their universities counselling service, the majority of students report they are less likely to withdraw from their course, feel better able to study and feel better equipped to seek future employment.

The Guardian

Counselling and talking therapies, such as cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), are recognised as just as effective over the long term.

The Guardian

More like this: Uni counselling services challenged by growing demand View our series: Mental health: a university crisis Join the higher education network for more comment, analysis and job opportunities, direct to your inbox.

The Guardian

Many of those interviewed by HRW showed signs of stress and anguish, according to the report, although only the Chibok girls had been offered limited counselling.

The Guardian

Eventually I told my parents, and after six months I was referred for counselling with the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service.

The Guardian

When Bouilhet died another family friend, Gustave Flaubert, took on Maupassant's literary education, counselling his impatient charge to hold off from publishing until he was ready (although from 1875 several stories crept into print under pseudonyms).

The Guardian - Books

She was in and out of counselling.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about mental health support, use "counselling" to refer to a process involving a trained professional. This term is widely understood and accepted.

Common error

Avoid using "counselling" to describe general advice-giving. "Counselling" implies a structured, professional interaction, not just informal suggestions.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "counselling" is as a noun, often referring to the professional service or process of providing guidance and support. Ludwig AI validates this usage, indicating its correctness in English writing. The examples illustrate its role as a noun within various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

27%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Academia

7%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "counselling" functions primarily as a noun denoting the professional service of providing guidance and support. Ludwig AI confirms that the term is grammatically correct and sees very common usage across a broad range of contexts. It is most frequently encountered in News & Media and Scientific publications. When writing, remember that "counselling" implies a structured, professional interaction and should not be used interchangeably with casual advice. As the examples illustrate, the word appears in contexts related to mental health, education, and personal development, thus use "therapy sessions", "psychological support", or "guidance services", when referring to similar concepts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

therapy sessions

Focuses on the therapeutic aspect, emphasizing structured sessions.

psychological support

Highlights the mental health aspect and provision of aid.

guidance services

Emphasizes direction and advice provided as a service.

advisory assistance

Implies professional help and recommendations.

supportive consultation

Highlights both the supportive and consultative nature of the interaction.

emotional mentoring

Suggests a nurturing and supportive relationship focused on emotional growth.

personal coaching

Focuses on individual development and skill enhancement through guidance.

therapeutic intervention

Emphasizes a specific action taken to improve mental or emotional health.

mental health assistance

Specifically addresses the provision of aid for mental well-being.

well-being guidance

Concentrates on overall wellness and direction toward improved health.

FAQs

How is "counselling" typically used in a sentence?

"Counselling" is often used to describe the process of receiving professional guidance, as in "She sought "counselling" to deal with her anxiety."

What are some alternatives to the word "counselling"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "therapy sessions", "guidance services", or "psychological support".

Is there a difference between "counselling" and "therapy"?

While often used interchangeably, "counselling" can sometimes refer to shorter-term, solution-focused interventions, whereas "therapy sessions" often implies a longer-term, more in-depth process.

When is it appropriate to use "counselling" instead of "advice"?

"Counselling" is appropriate when discussing professional help from a trained counselor, while "advice" refers to general suggestions or recommendations.