Counselling usually refers to a brief treatment that centres around behaviour patterns.
Counsellors now have to be registered with a professional body such as BACP. Sometimes counsellors choose to call themselves a psychotherapist so again looking at their qualifications and expertise would be important.
A counselling session may simply involve the client and counsellor talking through concerns with no specified structure or agenda. Alternatively, a counsellor may use a specific form of counselling such as solution focussed or systemic (family counselling) to help the client.
Counsellors who are registered will have had to undergo a diploma level counselling course and have many hours of working with different clients.
