Psychotherapy and Counselling
There are times when our emotions can feel overwhelming and our ability to cope with everyday life becomes a challenge. Having an opportunity to speak openly and confidentially to someone who can recognise where present difficulties come from and how they may be linked to past experiences can be very helpful. This offers a space in which you can feel supported and understood, allowing you to explore and manage whatever is happening in your life.
Counsellors and psychotherapists hold a great responsibility towards their clients and their profession. At The Psychiatry and Therapy Centre counsellors and psychotherapists will have had extensive training in their field from a reputable university or institute and are members of a regulatory body from the country they were trained in. All therapists have regular supervision that adhere to UK regulatory standards for counsellors and psychotherapists, and will have continued professional development and learning (CPD).
The terms counselling and psychotherapy are often used interchangeably. There are similarities and overlap between the two but there are some important distinctions.
Counselling usually helps clients with personal, social or psychological issues by identifying and managing present difficulties, in the ‘here and now’, by using a client’s current understanding and abilities. In counselling, problems are more often current issues in one’s life and therapy tends to be more focused on these issues – there is less emphasis on the client’s past.
Counsellors are trained to see clients once a week but this can vary.
Psychotherapists, on the other hand, have counselling skills but will also facilitate a client to look more in depth at their lives beginning with childhood and the context they grew up in. This is a process which helps clients to understand and resolve their difficulties by increasing awareness of their “inner world” and its influence over relationships, both past and present, as well as identifying negative repetitive conscious and unconscious patterns. Once these links are uncovered, the individual can begin to experience greater freedom of thought and action, leading to an improved sense of self and positive change.
Psychotherapists are trained to see clients at an increased frequency, from 1-3 times weekly depending on the nature of the issues.
What to expect?
Following your enquiry, an initial, free-of-charge telephone assessment will be conducted by a therapist in order to assess your needs and answer any questions you may have about the processes or about the individual counsellor or psychotherapist. Following this, an appointment will be made with the appropriate therapist. However, depending on the nature of the problem, you may be advised to book an appointment with one of our psychiatrists first, before starting therapy.
Counselling and psychotherapy sessions are 50 minutes or 1 hour long depending on your chosen counsellor or psychotherapist. However, this is often flexible and should be discussed with your therapist in the first session. Sessions occur on a regular, weekly basis. A level of commitment is needed by both the practitioner and the client in order to achieve the best outcome. The duration of the therapeutic relationship will depend on the client’s need.
How do I choose between counselling and psychotherapy?
Do you have a single concern that you would like to discuss and explore further?
Consider counselling
Have you noticed negative patterns that keep repeating themselves and are affecting your relationships and/or work?
Consider psychotherapy
Are you generally satisfied with your life, but are thinking of making an important decision or are in need of a sounding board?
Consider counselling
Is it time to address past traumas, underlying issues or family patterns that are affecting your well-being and your ability to move on or form lasting relationships?
Consider psychotherapy
Regardless of whether you choose a counsellor or a psychotherapist, the most important thing is that you choose the right therapist for you. The therapeutic relationship is essential as it allows you to share and engage within the therapeutic frame. At The Psychiatry and Therapy Centre we offer counselling and psychotherapy.