Psychotherapy - Counselling Therapy
Written by Julie Taylor
Psychotherapy and psychology are similar: both words come from the root ‘psyche – which means ‘mind’ – therapy is the practical use of this type of work and ‘ology’ means ‘the study of’. Both of these people work with the same problems as counsellors – some of the courses they take at college are the same.
The problems psychologists work with may be deeper and include the more serious personality disorders. If a counsellor encounters a problem outside of their expertise they will usually refer to a psychotherapist, who is often a doctor too.
Sometimes the issues are the same, The biggest difference is in the training – a psychotherapist has learned his counselling in a university, usually alongside scientific studies. A counsellor may have a similar amount of education and experience but often from a more humanistic and wholistic viewpoint, in a more practical way or from a social-work foundation.
Psychotherapy includes help with relationships, assertiveness and communication, bereavement and grief, clinical depression, borderline depression, weight loss and weight management, eating disorders, boredom or malaise, dysthymia, infidelity, sex addictions and other habit problems including drinking problems that are not debilitating, sexual dysfunctions, anxiety disorders, GAD (general anxiety disorder), panic attacks (panic disorder), phobias, work stress, codependency, ACA (adult children of alcoholics) issues, other family of origin issues, overcoming trauma and post traumatic stress disorder, help with parenting, stress management, anger management, decision-making, assertiveness, self-esteem, weight problems, eating disorders, personality disorders, a habit problem, personal growth, clarifying values, the meaning of life, goal-setting, accomplishing goals, coping with difficult people, and other psychological issues or problems. Some therapists also use cognitive therapy, CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy, also called cognitive behavioural therapy) short term dynamic psychotherapy, hypnotherapy, client-centred therapy (Rogerian), transference, and other methods as required. Many therapists are integrative therapists which means that they use a blend of therapy models.
As you can see, the list of disorders and types of psychotherapy is long. As with all therapies it is very important to have a good idea of exactly what you want to address and achieve – or spend the first session or two working on this.