The Difference Between Psychotherapy & Counselling
Difference in Psychotherapy & counselling
Exploring the differences between psychotherapy and counselling.
What Is The Difference Between Counselling And Psychotherapy?
When it comes to therapy a common question I am asked is: What is the difference between a counsellor and a psychotherapist.
For counsellors and psychotherapists a like, the answer to this question will often include differences in modality, technical difference and approach. For clients however, the difference between counselling and psychotherapy will be dependant on what you are looking to achieve from therapy, the amount of time you want to commit to your therapy( as well as the number of sessions) and to what depth you want to explore!
Counselling
The Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation Australia (PACFA) has developed a definition of counselling to clarify for members of the College and for the wider community what the College of Counselling means by the term “counselling”. The below definition is the result of that process.
Definition of Counselling:
“Professional counselling is a safe and confidential* collaboration between qualified counsellors and clients to promote mental health and wellbeing, enhance self-understanding, and resolve identified concerns. Clients are active participants in the counselling process at every stage.”
Counselling is usually a shorter term engagement with a therapist and may take place over 6-12 sessions. Clients generally seek counselling to support them in resolving a single issue or challenge ( as opposed to working on any deeper processes) and may explore a range of aspects including relationships with self and others, past experiences, family challenges, grief or other challenges.
Some of the changes that can be facilitated by counselling include:
A change in perspective
Gaining new ways of thinking
Increased awareness
Capacity to tolerate and regulate feelings
Creation of new actions or behaviours
New decisions about life
Psychotherapy
PACFA has also developed a definition of Psychotherapy to explain what the term “Psychotherapy” means.
Definition of psychotherapy:
“Psychotherapy is the comprehensive and intentional engagement between therapist and client for the healing, growth or transformation of emotional, physical, relationship, existential and behavioural issues, or of chronic suffering, through well-founded relational processes. The aim of psychotherapy is to support increased awareness and choice, and facilitate the development, maturation, efficacy and well-being of a client.”
“Psychotherapy involves what is known and what may not be known in personal functioning, usually referred to as “conscious and unconscious factors”. Through a holistic perspective it encompasses the mental, emotional, behavioural, relational, existential and spiritual health of a human being.”
Generally speaking, Psychotherapy often involves a more in depth exploration of a person’s experience.
Through a collaborative partnership psychotherapists work with their clients bring awareness to the unconscious aspects of a persons expereince. The interaction between therapist and client provides a real-life relational encounter in which the client becomes aware of how they interact with themselves and others. In this setting clients can gain awareness of their repeated patterns and develops new insights, skills, understandings and ways of being in the world.
Many clients engage in Psychotherapy for a longer period of time. Given that many of our challenges and ways of being in the world have arisen over time and through repeated experiences it can take time to develop awareness, rewire neural pathways and develop new behaviours and skills that result in long term sustainable change.
Psychotherapy is generally a minimum of 6 sessions and may be part of a persons ongoing personal growth and development.
Psychotherapists work with people who have a wide range of presenting concerns, these concerns may include: depression, anxiety eating disorders, self-harm, illness, addiction, grief, trauma, relationship challenges, life transitions and a desire for more in life.
Outcomes of Psychotherapy include:
Understanding your patterns of behaviours
Exploring your thoughts and beliefs
Gaining insight into root cause of your challenges
Discovering the impact of past events in your life now
Developing new interpersonal and intra-personal communication skills
What does this mean for your therapy?
Research shows us that one of the biggest predictors of therapeutic success and outcomes is based on the alliance or relationship you have with your therapist. This is why it is important to take the time to find a therapist that you feel comfortable with and whose approach you resonate with.
A good place to start is to spend some time getting clear on your goals with your therapist. Talking about what you are looking for our of therapy as well as what you are not looking for. Deciding how many sessions you would like to start as well as the length of time you want to commit to your personal growth and development.
You may also like to decide to work with a therapist who uses a specific approach or modality eg. somatic body approach, holistic, Gestalt, ACT, psychodrama or Art Therapy are some examples. You may decide to focus more on talking and having someone to bounce your ideas off so that you get a different perspective or clarity on a situation. Either way good therapy is about feeling safe and supported.
Being clear about what you would like to work on and achieve in your therapy is also important.
Some questions to help you get clear on whats important might be:
How will I know when therapy has worked for me and what do I want to have achieved?
What would my life look like if I had achieved my goals and created a change?
How do I want to feel emotionally, physically and spiritually after therapy?
Want to know what I consider good therapy? You can read the article I wrote: What Is Good Therapy?
If you are interested in working with me, you can book a session HERE.
Natajsa is a Clinical Psychotherapist with a private practice is based in Ashgrove, Brisbane. She provides psychotherapy and counselling to individuals and couples and facilitates fortnightly group therapy focused on interpersonal process. Natajsa believe's that the relationship we have with ourselves and others is the essential ingredient to our emotional health, happiness and wellbeing.
As a Gestalt therapist she is interested in the topics of connection, belonging and the importance of human relationships. Her focus is on helping people develop self-awareness and understanding of their challenges, so they can create long-term, sustainable change that leads to more fulfilling and meaningful lives. Natajsa has been featured as an expert both locally and internationally and has contributed to a number of print and online media outlets including Women's Health and Fitness Magazine, Cosmopolitan Magazine, Being Magazine, The Courier Mail, ABC Online and many others. You can find her online at:
www.natajsawagner.com
www.facebook.com/NatajsaWagnerPsychotherapy