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What is the difference between counselling and Therapy? How do you know which is better for you, more likely to give you the best outcome?
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To help you decide which path is right for you, I've defined the terms as I use them below. If you're still not sure, please book a FREE 30-minute chat to see if I can help =)
Counselling & Single Session Solution-Focused Counselling
What is it? How does it work?
While counselling and therapy are very similar, and use many of the same techniques, counselling is generally considered to be:
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often targeted to a specific issue or life situation currently being experienced
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include direction from the counsellor to engage in specific tasks related to the current challenge
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is usually limited to a relatively few number of sessions (generally 1 to 10)
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Counselling is appropriate for people who have suffered a life crisis, are experiencing anxiety, depression, or grief, or who struggle with self-esteem, anger, challenging behaviours, or relationship problems. Some issues can be attended to in a single session: ask for details.
Therapy
What is it? How does it work?
Therapy often includes counselling clients' through specific life challenges, so there is a lot of overlap between the two. However, therapies are:
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more focused on the patterns that emerge for an individual, how those patterns affect wellbeing and life circumstances, where they may have began, and how to interrupt or change unhelpful patterns
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allows for deeper self-exploration and understanding, which may create opportunities for greater shifts in wellbeing, coping skills, emotional regulation, and underlying mood.
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is often supplemented with psycho-education which cultivates self-knowledge and introduce self-management strategies
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therapeutic work is longer-term than counselling, minimally requiring regular sessions over several months.
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Therapy is appropriate for people who are experiencing chronic difficulties with their mental health, and who want to dig deep into improving their mental health management.