The terms Counselling and Psychotherapy are often used interchangeably. Though they have similar meanings with considerable overlap, there are some important distinctions between the two that are helpful to keep in mind when looking for a mental health care provider.
Psychotherapy takes place over a series of meetings, though often it has a longer duration than counselling. Instead of narrowing in on individual problems, psychotherapy considers overall patterns, chronic issues, and recurrent feelings. This requires openness to exploring the past and its impact on the present. The aim of psychotherapy is to resolve the underlying issues which fuel ongoing complaints. Psychotherapists help to resolve past experiences as part of laying the foundation for a satisfying future. Therapy is dealing with strong feelings, traumatic memories, and therapeutic relationship.
Counselling, sometimes called “talk therapy,” is a conversation or series of conversations between a counsellor and client. Counselling usually focuses on a specific problem and taking the steps to address or solve it. Problems are discussed in the present tense, without too much attention on the role of past experiences. Though the titles “counsellor” and “advisor” are often used like synonyms, counsellors rarely offer advice. Instead, counsellors guide clients to discover their own answers and support them through the actions they choose to take.
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How do I Choose Between Counselling & Psychotherapy?
Making a distinction between the two forms of therapy allows a better understanding of the process involved throughout the course of therapy. Research shows that the connection between counsellor/therapist and client is the most important factor in successful outcomes. However, you can narrow your search for a counsellor or psychotherapist by considering the following things:
Consider counselling
Counselling however will enable you to explore personal development and to create adjustments to your life.
- Do you have a single concern that you would like to get some feedback on
- Are you typically satisfied with your life and relationships, and just looking for a sounding board?
Consider psychotherapy
Psychotherapy will allow you to examine feelings, actions and thoughts and to learn how to evaluate and adjust where appropriate.
- Have you noticed a pattern of problems or concerns that seems to keep coming up?
- Is it time to address previous trauma or family patterns that are keeping you from feeling good in your own skin?
Techniques and Approaches
We use evidence-based approaches to the treatment of psychological difficulties. Our approach to psychotherapy is primarily Psychodynamic, Systemic Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Person-Centered Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy and Positive Psychology, where appropriate.
Psychodynamic therapy is a form of treatment aimed both at relieving symptoms and at achieving meaningful, long-lasting change.
As emotions, thoughts and behaviours become better understood, the individual develops the ability, in moments of distress or potential distress, to observe and have conscious input into his or her responses, rather than reacting in previously unhelpful ways.
Therefore, not only does psychodynamic therapy assist in the relief of symptoms, it encourages the individual to strengthen and build upon his or her own internal resources. This allows for meaningful, long-lasting change.
Psychodynamic therapy has a rich history and has continued to develop our understanding of human psychology over the last 130 years. In more recent years, scientific research has shown psychodynamic therapy to be a highly effective approach to psychological treatment, with lasting benefits.
As emotions, thoughts and behaviours become better understood, the individual develops the ability, in moments of distress or potential distress, to observe and have conscious input into his or her responses, rather than reacting in previously unhelpful ways.
Therefore, not only does psychodynamic therapy assist in the relief of symptoms, it encourages the individual to strengthen and build upon his or her own internal resources. This allows for meaningful, long-lasting change.
Psychodynamic therapy has a rich history and has continued to develop our understanding of human psychology over the last 130 years. In more recent years, scientific research has shown psychodynamic therapy to be a highly effective approach to psychological treatment, with lasting benefits.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a form of treatment aimed at reducing symptoms of psychological and emotional distress caused by unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviours. CBT encourages individuals to take note of their patterns of thinking, feeling and acting, and then to begin to develop new and more adaptive ways of thinking and behaving aligned with their particular goals.
CBT has demonstrated effectiveness as a psychological treatment for a range of difficulties, including anxiety disorders, mood disorders, substance use disorders, and psychotic disorders.
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CBT has demonstrated effectiveness as a psychological treatment for a range of difficulties, including anxiety disorders, mood disorders, substance use disorders, and psychotic disorders.
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Narrative therapy is a form of psychotherapy that seeks to help people identify their values and the skills and knowledge they have to live these values, so they can effectively confront whatever problems they face. The therapist seeks to help the person co-author a new narrative about them by investigating the history of those qualities. Narrative therapy claims to be a social justice approach to therapeutic conversations, seeking to challenge dominant discourses that it claims shape people’s lives in destructive ways.
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Solution focused (brief) therapy (SFBT) is a goal-directed collaborative approach to psychotherapeutic change that is conducted through direct observation of clients’ responses to a series of precisely constructed questions. Based upon social constructionist thinking and Wittgenstein philosophy (SFBT) focuses on addressing what clients want to achieve exploring the history and provenance of problem. Solution Focused therapy sessions typically focus on the present and future, focusing on the past only to the degree necessary for communicating empathy and accurate understanding of the client’s concerns.
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Systemic therapy is a form of treatment that aims to understand and respond to the individual as a part of his or her relational system, be it a romantic relationship, a family, a workplace or a community.
Systemic therapy seeks to understand how individuals have developed their patterns of relating by understanding their experiences of their families-of-origin. Drawing from this understanding, individuals are encouraged to attempt suggestions for alternative ways of relating to situations in which they currently are experiencing difficulty.
Systemic therapy has been shown to be an effective approach to the treatment of relationship difficulties, including in couples and families, with one or more members present in the therapy.
Systemic therapy seeks to understand how individuals have developed their patterns of relating by understanding their experiences of their families-of-origin. Drawing from this understanding, individuals are encouraged to attempt suggestions for alternative ways of relating to situations in which they currently are experiencing difficulty.
Systemic therapy has been shown to be an effective approach to the treatment of relationship difficulties, including in couples and families, with one or more members present in the therapy.
In providing counselling and psychotherapy services, we abide by the PACFA Code of Ethics and Charter for Clients. Please visit the PACFA website for further details.
Problems Treated
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