Your local counselling practice, psychotherapy clinic and psychology centre for relationship problems, psychological issues in Southfields, Earlsfields, Balham, Wimbledon Park & Wimbledon, London SW17, SW18, SW19, SW20 Call for your free initial consultation Tel: 02088751101
What is the difference between counselling and
psychotherapy:
Most of the time, counselling and
psychotherapy refer to the same thing.
Technically, the word counsellor means advisor, or one who advises or teaches.
In counselling it is understood that two individuals are putting their heads together in an intellectual manner in order to solve a problem.
Across most areas of counselling, typical work activities include:
● establishing a relationship of trust and respect with clients;
● agreeing a counselling contract to lay down what will be covered in sessions (including confidentiality issues);
●encouraging clients to talk about issues they feel they cannot normally share with others;
● actively listening to client concerns and empathising with their position; ●accepting without bias the issues raised by clients;
●helping clients towards a deeper understanding of their concerns;
●challenging any inconsistencies in what clients say or do;
●helping clients to make decisions and choices regarding possible ways forward;
●referring clients to other sources of help, as appropriate;
●keeping records.
Technically, the word counsellor means advisor, or one who advises or teaches.
In counselling it is understood that two individuals are putting their heads together in an intellectual manner in order to solve a problem.
Across most areas of counselling, typical work activities include:
● establishing a relationship of trust and respect with clients;
● agreeing a counselling contract to lay down what will be covered in sessions (including confidentiality issues);
●encouraging clients to talk about issues they feel they cannot normally share with others;
● actively listening to client concerns and empathising with their position; ●accepting without bias the issues raised by clients;
●helping clients towards a deeper understanding of their concerns;
●challenging any inconsistencies in what clients say or do;
●helping clients to make decisions and choices regarding possible ways forward;
●referring clients to other sources of help, as appropriate;
●keeping records.
Psychotherapy, on the other hand, is a term
that, generally speaking, refers to the
“treatment of mental and emotional
disorders through the use of psychological
techniques designed to encourage
communication of conflicts and insights
into problems, with the goal being
personality growth and behaviour
modification”
"Psychotherapy" is generally a longer-term treatment, which focuses more on gaining insight into chronic physical and emotional problems. Its focus is on the patient's thought processes and way of being in the world rather than specific problems.
In actual practice there may be quite a bit of overlap between the two.
A therapist may provide counselling with specific situations and a counsellor may function in a psychotherapeutic manner. Generally speaking, however, psychotherapy requires more skill than simple counselling. It is conducted by professionals trained to practice psychotherapy such as a psychiatrist, a trained counsellor, social worker or psychologist. While a psychotherapist is qualified to provide counselling, a counsellor may or may not possess the necessary training and skills to provide psychotherapy. Most of the time, counselling and psychotherapy refer to the same thing. In all probability, there is some counselling and some psychotherapy intermittently taking place in the course of any single therapeutic hour.
"Psychotherapy" is generally a longer-term treatment, which focuses more on gaining insight into chronic physical and emotional problems. Its focus is on the patient's thought processes and way of being in the world rather than specific problems.
In actual practice there may be quite a bit of overlap between the two.
A therapist may provide counselling with specific situations and a counsellor may function in a psychotherapeutic manner. Generally speaking, however, psychotherapy requires more skill than simple counselling. It is conducted by professionals trained to practice psychotherapy such as a psychiatrist, a trained counsellor, social worker or psychologist. While a psychotherapist is qualified to provide counselling, a counsellor may or may not possess the necessary training and skills to provide psychotherapy. Most of the time, counselling and psychotherapy refer to the same thing. In all probability, there is some counselling and some psychotherapy intermittently taking place in the course of any single therapeutic hour.
London Psychology centre is a dedicated
psychotherapy and counselling unit based in
Southfields, near Wimbledon, specialising in
psychotherapy, counselling, Cognitive Behaviourial
Therapy (CBT); we deal with a wide range of
psychological issues such as anxiety, depression,
relationship breakdown, separation, loss, parental
difficulties, adolescent problems.