The terms ‘Counselling’ and ‘Psychotherapy’ are often used interchangeably, as they are ways of the doing the same thing. I offer both, sometimes individually, and most the time in combination.

The defining nature of the terms are:

Focus, Duration and Approach:

Counselling is often shorter-term, aiming to address immediate concerns and provide practical solutions to a specific situation or challenge.

Psychotherapy generally involves a deeper exploration of experiences and behaviours that is more long-term. It aims to explore people’s lives holistically, working to understand our underlying patterns and movations as well as our beliefs, values and identity.

Client Goals:

Counselling: Goals are often centered on resolving specific problems and improving day-to-day functioning. It is typically more focused on helping clients make decisions and handle immediate concerns.

Psychotherapy: Goals may include achieving greater self-awareness, understanding and modifying deep-seated patterns, and working through unresolved issues that impact overall mental health and well-being.

Overall, while both counseling and psychotherapy aim to help individuals improve their mental health and well-being, psychotherapy tends to involve a deeper, more comprehensive exploration of psychological issues, whereas counseling often focuses on addressing more immediate and practical concerns.