*Welcome to the OutUK series looking at gay men and their health brought to you in association with the NHS* website.**
	Each week we'll tackle a different topic in our A to Z of Gay Health. We'll have features and advice on everything from relationships, sexual health, mental and physical conditions and how to stay fit. You can follow any of links provided below for more information direct from the NHS website, or view any of our Previous A to Z Features.

You should also know that OutUK has produced a special report about: Coronavirus Covid-19.

[Previous Feature]

This Week - Q : Qualified Therapists (Counselling)

Get urgent help

Support is available if you or someone you know is having a mental health crisis or emergency, no matter what you're going through.

Find out where to get urgent help for mental health

What counselling is for

Counselling can help you to deal with a range of different issues, including:

difficult emotions, such as stress, low mood, worry, or anger
life events, such as illness or bereavement
problems in your relationships, at school or at work

The NHS only offers counselling for certain mental health conditions, such as depression.

How to get counselling

There are many different ways to get counselling.

NHS talking therapies for anxiety and depression

You can refer yourself to an NHS talking therapies service without having to speak to a GP. You can also ask your GP to refer you.

You may be able to get counselling, or another type of talking therapy. The type of therapy you can get depends on what you need it for and what's available in your area.

To use this service, you must be registered with a GP and aged 18 or over (or 16 or over in some areas).

Find NHS talking therapies for anxiety and depression

Other ways to get counselling

You may be able to get free counselling:

as part of your treatment at another NHS service
through your employer, school or university
from a charity

You might choose to pay for private counselling. Before choosing a private counsellor, make sure they're on a register accredited by the Professional Standards Authority, such as the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

Find out more about how to find therapy or counselling on the Mind website

If you're under 18

Getting talking therapies on the NHS is different if you're under 18 (or under 16 in some areas).

Find out more about getting mental health support for children and young people

Self help for mental health

How counselling works

Counselling can be done in many ways, including:

in person, over the phone or online
on your own, as a couple or family, or in a group

Counselling sessions usually last 50 to 60 minutes. If you get counselling on the NHS, you'll usually have between 8 and 16 sessions.

During your counselling session, the counsellor will:

listen to you without judgement
try to see things from your point of view
encourage you to talk about your thoughts, feelings, and life experiences
help you to find your own solutions to problems

Counsellors do not usually give advice or tell you what to do.

Find out more

[Previous Feature]

We'll have more information and advice next week on another topic in our A to Z of Gay Health. We have covered many subjects in this series and you can catch up with all of our Previous A to Z Features. If you want to find out more about this week's subject you can visit the Original article on the NHS website. If you are worried by any aspect of your health make sure you go and see your doctor or book an appointment at your local clinic.
Photos: LightFieldStudios and one of VladOrlov, Stockcube, darak77, ajr_images or rawpixel.com.