I am often asked what the difference is between psychotherapy and counselling. While there is no consensus on their definitions in Australia, I will explain how I personally am using these words, and what they mean to my clients.
Counselling and psychotherapy can be seen as two approaches to therapeutic communication. Which approach you take does not need to be decided before therapy begins, as it will simply emerge naturally in response to your goals, the time you have, and our therapeutic relationship.
Counselling usually occurs over a shorter term of several months. Alternatively, clients may come intermittently, such as every two weeks, or simply 'as needed'. This approach focuses on behavioural patterns, helps with emotional processing and decision making, and creates a deeper integration of life's events and challenges.
Psychotherapy focuses on working with clients for a longer-term, and often clients come weekly. The therapeutic relationship therefore becomes stronger and more intimate, allowing for deeper work to take place. Psychotherapy is generally depth work that builds over time, offering a deeper awareness of emotional issues and personal patterns, and often getting to the foundation of the problem.
My approach to the therapeutic relationship is the same in both cases, as are the services I provide. In reality, my clients experience the effects of both counselling and psychotherapy in their time with me, as I move quite seamlessly between them within a session. The primary difference is therefore the clients' personal therapeutic goals, and the time in which we have to meet them.
On my web site, I've had to use counselling and psychotherapy somewhat interchangeably, as there is no convention around the specific therapies I'm discussing. The most important thing to know is that in our time together we will simply be working towards your highest good, regardless of which approach we're adopting. If you have any questions about this, please feel free to contact me.
Read more about my approach to counselling & psychotherapy.
Counselling and psychotherapy can be seen as two approaches to therapeutic communication. Which approach you take does not need to be decided before therapy begins, as it will simply emerge naturally in response to your goals, the time you have, and our therapeutic relationship.
Counselling usually occurs over a shorter term of several months. Alternatively, clients may come intermittently, such as every two weeks, or simply 'as needed'. This approach focuses on behavioural patterns, helps with emotional processing and decision making, and creates a deeper integration of life's events and challenges.
Psychotherapy focuses on working with clients for a longer-term, and often clients come weekly. The therapeutic relationship therefore becomes stronger and more intimate, allowing for deeper work to take place. Psychotherapy is generally depth work that builds over time, offering a deeper awareness of emotional issues and personal patterns, and often getting to the foundation of the problem.
My approach to the therapeutic relationship is the same in both cases, as are the services I provide. In reality, my clients experience the effects of both counselling and psychotherapy in their time with me, as I move quite seamlessly between them within a session. The primary difference is therefore the clients' personal therapeutic goals, and the time in which we have to meet them.
On my web site, I've had to use counselling and psychotherapy somewhat interchangeably, as there is no convention around the specific therapies I'm discussing. The most important thing to know is that in our time together we will simply be working towards your highest good, regardless of which approach we're adopting. If you have any questions about this, please feel free to contact me.
Read more about my approach to counselling & psychotherapy.
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