What is The Difference Between Counselling and Psychotherapy?

Often people Seem confused when seeking out therapy of help for their mental health or wellbeing. They might search for a therapist and learn that there are many different psychotherapy approaches that then begins to feel overwhelming or intimidating. The truth is, it’s fairly simple, here I will help to break it down for you.

Counselling and psychotherapy are words that are often used synonymously.

In the UK there isn’t much distinction between the words counselling or psychotherapy, however, some may claim that psychotherapy can refer to more a lengthy form of therapy which would last longer than counselling’s typical 16 to 18 session maximum. Often in counselling people may feel as thought they are better by about 14 sessions, especially when treating thigs like anxiety and low mood with evidence-based practices.

The client context is important to understand.

With so many different psychotherapeutic approaches it can sometimes be hard to distinguish what one is right for you. As someone who is trained in integrative counselling and psychotherapy, I believe different approaches all have their worth. An integrative trained therapist will utilise methods and theory from different approaches to meet the individual cleints needs. For example, a client seeking out a depression counselling service might come to me and feel that mental health counselling they have received in the past hasn’t had the effects that they were hoping for. Perhaps the client received free counselling from a health service where usually the approach is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Not all individuals are going to feel that CBT met their needs, or perhaps they were unable to relate to the therapist they were given.

The benefits of combining approaches?

When trained in an integrative style you can utilise humanistic, cognitive behavioural and psychodynamic theory and methods in practice. An integrative therapist will utilise the benefits from different approaches at the same time. A benefit of the integrative approach is that the therapy can be tailored individually to what works for the client. This approach is important for some people who may feel that they wish to delve deeper into their mind than CBT offers, or for others, who might require a more holistic and nurturing approach.

Does online counselling work?

The short answer is, yes. As an example, if someone is seeking out anxiety counselling online then they may approach my website Camberwell Mental Health counselling (CMH Counselling). They may feel as though travelling to meet me face to face is overwhelming and makes them feel anxious. We might then meet online or even by the telephone, and through the therapeutic treatment process the individual will find themselves feeling braver and able to take on previously challenging situations.  The process of clinical mental health counselling does not change weather online or in person it is simply a matter of preference. It is important to note that some people may feel that meeting face to face is better. They might feel that they are getting a proper experience or that meeting in person makes them more accountable in the development process. There are several factors that can influence an individual’s preference and ultimately it is for you to decide.

Long term therapy, what are the benefits?

Many individuals may feel as though they need long-term psychotherapy to understand themselves on a deeper level. This kind of therapy might be concerned with your past, your childhood and your unconscious mind. It can take many different formats, from the traditional Freudian psychoanalysis, whereby the client might lay on a couch, or approaches like psychodynamic psychotherapy which adopts and pulls together different psycho-analytic type theories and methods and might focus on your relations or your unconscious mind. These therapies are considered by some to be powerful approaches allowing clients to gain insight into the psyche. While the approaches may take a long time and be quite expensive, clients may feel a sense of getting to know themselves on a deeper level. With this deeper understanding of themselves they may overcome blockades in their development and begin to feel more composed in life. Often these approaches can be used to treat clients in clinical settings who have long term concerns with relationships and past experiences, or with people that have developed severe mental health disorders, perhaps a result of the environment growing up.

In summary

definitions of therapy can be broad, usually counsellors and psychotherapists are trained so they can meet the client’s desired outcome using a range of methods. Do not feel shy to ask a therapist about their approach, there are many approaches that can work to reach the desired outcomes of clients. Feel free to contact my Camberwell counselling practice if you have any queries or questions; consultations are available at no cost.