Counselling vs Therapy: Which One Fits Your Needs?

When facing emotional challenges, it is essential to recognise that seeking professional assistance is a positive step towards self-care and growth. However, deciding between Counselling and Therapy can be confusing due to their overlapping nature. Understanding the differences between Counselling vs Therapy can give you some clarity.  

According to NHS, nearly 1.81 million people in the UK were referred for talking therapies in 2022. In this blog, you will learn about commonly interchanged terms in Mental Health and understand the key differences between Counselling vs Therapy. Read ahead to know more!  

Table of Contents  

1) What is Counselling?  

2) What is Therapy?  

3) What are the differences between Counselling and Therapy?

4) Qualifications required for each type of specialists

5) What type of Therapy or Counselling will be best for you? 

6) Conclusion      

What is Counselling?  

Counselling primarily focuses on providing support, guidance, and problem-solving techniques to individuals facing specific issues or life events. The forms of Counselling can depend on the needs and requirements of the type of Mental Health Illness. 

It is typically a short-term approach that helps clients explore their thoughts and feelings, gain insight, and develop coping strategies. Counselling sessions often revolve around specific topics such as:  

1) Grief  

2) Relationship problems  

3) Career choice 

4) Stress management  

In some of these sessions, the therapist may ask you to visit individually, or with your significant partner and even with family members depending on your nature of counselling. In these sessions there are several aspects which are covered. It can be about your individual relationships, your childhood, feelings, emotions, thoughts, behaviour, your past and present and about situations which make you uncomfortable.

What is Therapy? 

Therapy, on the other hand, is a broader and more in-depth process that aims to address long-standing patterns, emotional difficulties, and Mental Health disorders. Even if you don’t have any Mental Health disorders you can still consult to a Therapist and be the best version of yourself. You can prevent many self-destructive thoughts and actions through Therapy. 
 

Therapists use evidence-based techniques to facilitate personal growth and improve overall well-being. They alleviate symptoms for the following conditions:  

a) Anxiety  

b) Depression  

c) Trauma  

Therapy sessions tend to be longer-term, offering a comprehensive exploration of an individual's thoughts, emotions, and behaviours.  Therapists can also ask you to elaborate on instances which make you harbour negative feelings. They may go even farther and ask you about your family members and their behaviours towards you or any other instances.

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What are the differences between Counselling and Therapy?

While Counselling and Therapy share the common goal of supporting individuals in their mental and emotional well-being, several key differences set them apart. Here we will explore the differences between Counselling and Therapy:  

Scope and focus  

Counselling tends to have a narrower focus, addressing specific concerns or life events. It provides practical tools and strategies to help individuals navigate immediate challenges effectively. Therapy, on the other hand, takes a broader approach, exploring the underlying causes of emotional difficulties and working towards long-term personal growth.  

Timeframe and duration  

Counselling is typically short-term and goal-oriented, consisting of a limited number of sessions that focus on immediate issues. Therapy, being more comprehensive, involves a longer commitment, often extending over several months or even years. It allows individuals to dive deep into their past, relationships, and patterns of behaviour.  

Techniques and approaches  

Counselling utilises solution-focused techniques, cognitive-behavioural strategies, or psychoeducation to help clients overcome specific problems. Therapy incorporates various evidence-based modalities tailored to the individual's needs, such as:   

a) Psychodynamic Therapy  

b) Cognitive-behavioural Therapy (CBT)  

c) Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) 

Clinical training and specialisation  

While both Counselling and Therapy professionals undergo training and certification, Therapists often possess advanced degrees and specialised training in specific therapeutic modalities. They are equipped to address complex psychological issues and Mental Health disorders.  Counsellors, on the other hand, may have a narrower focus on specific areas of expertise or life events.  

Counselling treatments

These Counselling treatments focus on your overall mental well-being and not just treating the disorders. The clinical Mental Health counsellors focuses on taking a more strength-based approach. This signifies that the treatment is focused on your unique strengths and abilities. These treatments focus on treating your Mental Health which is getting affected by everyday scenarios. 

Therapy treatments

These Therapy treatments are more in depth than Counselling sessions. The licensed Therapists may ask you to discuss your past relationships, your family situations, and most importantly your feelings and emotions that may cause your Mental Illness. The goal of Therapy is to relieve you from your symptoms and help you lead a healthier life. There are different techniques that are used for different Mental Health issues.
 

Qualifications required for each type of specialists

Even though the qualifications of Therapists and Counsellors may sometimes overlap, there are some differences that exists between the qualifications for each specialist. These are as follows:

Qualifications required to become a Counsellor

The qualifications required to become a Counsellor are as follows:

1) Counsellors need to have at least a bachelor's degree in Psychology, Counselling, or any other related field. Having a master’s degree will also be an added advantage to Counsellors in their sessions.

2) Counsellors require specialised certification and training before they are fit to provide any sessions. There are different types of Counselling such as marriage, family, school guidance Counselling, etc. The trainings of each of these Counselling are different from each other and require a separate expertise to handle different situations.

3) Counsellors have to be very good in communication. If Counsellors cannot communicate with their patients and vice versa effectively, then they cannot provide the necessary solutions to the same.

4) With the world changing around us constantly, Counsellors have to be updated with any recent new or informations, so that they can fully provide the correct counsel to their clients. Moreover, the medical field is continuously improving with years. So, for any budding or even a professional keeping themselves updated with the recent treatments can help them as well as their patients immensely.

Qualifications required to become a Therapist

Here are qualifications that are required to become a Therapist. The following points are listed below:

a) Therapists need to have a doctoral degree in Psychology, or even a master’s degree in the same field, or in Counselling. There are also several specialised degrees which Therapists can pursue.

b) Therapists need to have a license to practice. The requirements for all these licenses vary from state to state and also from country to country. There are also licensing exams that Therapists need to undergo before they start practicing.

c) If you want to become a Therapist who deals with trauma and other cognitive behaviour disorders, you need to have specialised trainings and certifications.

d) If you are an aspiring Therapist, or planning to pursue a career in it, you need to have practical experience, before you start treating patients. For some years new Therapists undergo internships and supervised clinical sessions.

What type of Therapy or Counselling will be best for you?

There are various types of Therapies or Counselling that you can undergo. However, not all Therapies or Counselling sessions will be applicable to every different individual. Generally, the kind of Therapy or Counselling session is dependent on that individual’s situations, past scenarios, relationships, family situations, etc. Every individual is different, and the extremity of the problems will differ from one person to the other. Hence, it will depend on your Counsellor or Therapist, to refer to the kind of treatment you require.

Conclusion   

We hope you understood the differences between  Counselling vs Therapy. When deciding between Counselling and Therapy, it's important to consider your specific needs and goals. While Counselling is ideal for addressing immediate challenges, Therapy offers a more in-depth exploration of long-standing emotional issues. Choose wisely and take consultations based on your unique circumstances.  

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