LK Counselling What are Counselling and Psychotherapy?
Counselling and psychotherapy are umbrella terms that cover a range of talking therapies. They are delivered by trained practitioners like me who work with people over a short or long term to help them bring about effective change or enhance their wellbeing.
What is the difference between them?
Views differ about the difference but generally it is considered that counselling is a talking therapy to help at the time of the crisis and psychotherapy is thought to focus more on longer term psychological problems and generally will entail longer term commitment.
Why choose therapy?
Usually people choose to have therapy because they are experiencing difficulties and distress in their lives. Even where an individual has the most supportive family and friends, it may be easier to talk about personal, family, or relationship issues with a person who is independent of friends and family.
Other life issues and events which can be very difficult to deal with include bereavement, divorce, redundancy, health issues, bullying and so on.
However, you do not have to be in crisis or on the verge of one, before choosing to have therapy. You may be experiencing underlying feelings of dissatisfaction with life in general, or be seeking balance in your life and spirituality. All of these reasons and more will bring individuals to therapy