Counselling in primary care: A 2-year follow-up of outcome and client perceptions

Abstract

Seventy clients were contacted by post, approximately 2 years after receiving brief counselling in a general practice setting for mental health problems. Among the 41 who replied, clinically significant reductions in anxiety and depression achieved during the six sessions of counselling had been maintained at follow-up. Frequency of visits to the GP had reduced. Counselling was seen as a helpful intervention by 87.8% of respondents. Although some found the process was distressing, and a small proportion felt that six sessions was insufficient, the majority felt that counselling had enduring benefits which had generalised to other problem situations.