How do I decide whether to see a counsellor or a psychotherapist?
I often get asked what the difference is between counselling and psychotherapy.
You may have noticed the terms are often used interchangeably. In my experience the two often blend together when working with clients and it is almost impossible to pinpoint which bit of the session was counselling and which bit was psychotherapy! In a nutshell though, counselling usually focuses on a specific problem which is discussed in the present-tense, without too much attention on the role of your past experiences.
Psychotherapy often has a longer duration than counselling and looks at patterns and recurring feelings in your life. It helps you make sense of how the past may impact on the present and and understanding of this may support you to resolve current difficulties you're experiencing.
