What is Counselling/Psychotherapy
In practice there is very little difference between a Counsellor and a Psychotherapist. Counselling is a process which allows you to talk about your feelings and concerns within a confidential and supportive environment. It does not involve advice, diagnosis or judgement; it provides you with an opportunity to gain insight into your present situation, feelings and behaviour. And as a consequence, it empowers you to make clear and informed choices about your future options in life.
Psychotherapy is used to deal with ‘deeper’ issues, most commonly in situations where past experiences cause present distress. A psychotherapists is very similar to a counsellor but is trained to work at a far deeper level than a Counsellor, particularly where psychological and emotional issues exist. A psychotherapist uses a variety of psychological methods. They help clients to explore emotional problems, analyse past experiences and help create coping strategies.
How long does Counselling/Psychotherapy treatment last?
The number of sessions that you choose to book will vary according to the nature of your presenting issue and the depth to which you would like to explore it. Some choose a short course of therapy to deal with a specific issue, whilst other clients prefer to undertake longer term therapy as a means to help them examine and understand broader themes within their lives.
The length and form of the therapy is something that you can discuss and agree with your therapist at the start of the counselling process. This approach can then be reviewed at regular intervals to ensure that you are receiving the therapy that is right for you.