The two terms ‘Counsellor’ and ‘Therapist’ are often used interchangeably as
they share several commonalities, but there are a few significant differences
too. Usually, counselling is referred to for a particular problem or
circumstance, like addiction or grief, and takes place over weeks to several
months. Psychotherapy, however, tends to focus more on past issues that might
be the source of present-day problems. In actual practice, though, there is a
great deal of overlap between the two. Acknowledging the differences between
counselling and psychotherapy shall assist you in selecting what will be more
suitable for you in a particular scenario.
Online Counselling & Therapy
Get help for
anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues
Similarities
-
Formation of a safe and empathetic therapeutic alliance between the service
provider and client.
-
Effective results for a variety of individuals (including adults and
children) as well as a wide range of issues.
- Provide support and psycho-education.
- Isn’t the first-line treatment for Neurosis.
- May or may not involve testing.
Counselling
- Focus on a particular problem or current circumstances.
- Duration-Short term.
- Action focused.
- Primary method-Talk therapy.
Psychotherapy
- Focus is on past issues or past experiences.
- Look for overall patterns.
- Duration-Long term.
- Useful for personal growth.
Choosing between Counsellor and Psychotherapist
While
choosing a therapist,
it is important to know about the differences (mentioned above) besides
experience or expertise and credentials. You may talk to the service provider
or check for reviews of others before actually booking an appointment. Knowing
which of these two is better for you is very subjective and situational.
Counselling shall be better if:
-
You have a particular issue or short-term crisis you want to deal with.
-
You want to build coping skills for
better management of stress.
- You wish to improvise your relationships.
-
You are going through tough times (like separation or the death of a
parent).
- You want to deal with substance abuse issues.
Psychotherapy shall be better if
-
You have persistent problems from the past that hampering your present.
-
You have been diagnosed with mental health conditions like
personality-related disorders or phobias.
- No prominent results even after you have seen a counsellor.