Your Resolve
Psychotherapy and counseling are both types of therapy that can help mental health, however, they vary in the primary target of the therapy.
Psychotherapy is typically a more in-depth, long-term process that focuses on a person’s feelings and past experiences to improve mental health.
Counseling is typically short-term talk therapy that aims at helping a person find solutions to current issues or work through specific experiences. This form of therapy specializes in helping someone develop strategies, actions, and behaviors that can help make daily life more enjoyable.
Both types are extremely helpful in improving a person’s mental health and quality of life.
Is psychotherapy the same as counseling?
This table outlines some of the main differences between psychotherapy and counseling.
Psychotherapy | Counseling |
|---|---|
Focuses on recurring or chronic issues.
| Focuses on short-term, or current issues.
|
Psychotherapy relies on the application of treatment guided by manuals and protocols.
| It is less likely that a counselor will deliver the therapy with the aid of a treatment manual.
|
Treatments are more likely to be theory-driven, such as cognitive behavioral or Jungian.
| Less likely to be theory-driven.
|
Types of psychotherapy can involve talking, cognitive behavioral, art, drama, music, animal, and movement.
| Involves talk therapy.
|
Therapy may focus on a person’s entrenched and long-held patterns of thought and behavior.
| Therapy may focus only on specific behaviors or situations.
|
Therapy may be long-term and can take place over many years.
| Therapy may be short-term.
|
A psychological professional delivers the therapy. | A psychological professional usually delivers counseling, although people, such as volunteers or pastoral counselors, may also offer counseling.
|
Therapy may focus on a psychological disorder or problem with psychological functioning.
| May deal with functioning individuals who are experiencing difficulties in their current situation.
|
Therapy may use experiences and feelings as the basis.
| Therapy may focus on behaviors and actions.
|
Therapy may focus on personal growth from an in-depth focus on core issues.
| Therapy may focus on support, guidance, and problem-solving for current issues.
|
Additionally, psychotherapy is often provided by a clinical psychologist who studies how your past experiences and patterns have brought you to your current situation while counseling is conducted by mental health counselors or family therapists who focus on more recent events that impact your well-being.
Psychotherapy
As psychotherapy deals with long-term emotional difficulties and mental illnesses, this form of therapy usually lasts multiple years. Through this time, a therapist can help one learn how to deal with longstanding and complex issues.
Research shows that about 75 percent of people who enter psychotherapy show some benefit from it.
The benefits aren’t just mental, psychotherapy work has been linked to fewer sick days, fewer medical problems, and increased work satisfaction.
In cases of psychotherapy with people with mental illness, it has been shown to cause brain changes simmilar to changes resulting from medication.
Types of Psychotherapy
Psychiatrists and mental health professionals use several types of therapy to achieve desired results. The choice depends on the client’s illness and circumstances. Many psychiatrists combine several elements from different approaches.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
This form of psychotherapy helps people identify and change thinking patterns that are unhealthy by replacing them with accurate thoughts and functional behaviors. CBT involves practicing skills developed in therapy in the real world. CBT can help treat depression, anxiety, trauma-related disorders, and eating disorders by recognizing and changing unhelpful or maladaptive thoughts that are contributing to the condition.
Interpersonal Therapy
IPT is a short-term form of treatment that helps a client work through underlying interpersonal issues, primarily these are issues relating to others. This form of psychotherapy helps people learn healthy ways to express emotions and improve communication with others. IPT is most commonly used for treating depression.
This form of psychotherapy helps people identify and change thinking patterns that are unhealthy by replacing them with accurate thoughts and functional behaviors. CBT involves practicing skills developed in therapy in the real world. CBT can help treat depression, anxiety, trauma-related disorders, and eating disorders by recognizing and changing unhelpful or maladaptive thoughts that are contributing to the condition.
Psychodynamic Therapy
This therapy is rooted in the idea that mental well-being and behavior are rooted in childhood and past experiences. A therapist will work with someone to bring conscious awareness to feelings that may have been buried or subconscious. By working through the root of behavioral patterns, this form of psychotherapy can help patients deal with mental health-related issues. Psychoanalysis is a more intensive form of psychodynamic therapy that requires sessions several times a week.
There are many other kinds of psychotherapy, listed above are some of the most popular.
Counseling
While counseling methods often go by the same name as psychotherapy techniques, it is essential to remember the fundamental differences between the two mentioned above. Unique to counseling, however, are specialized types of counseling like marriage, family, guidance, and mental health. These can offer more tailored support to a client who may not need comprehensive behavioral therapy, but rather guidance on working through marital issues. The therapist, or counselor, will typically guide the conversation toward topics such as thoughts, feelings, relationships, and current difficulties. They will then try to help the individual make connections and provide helpful insight.
How to know which is best for you
It’s sometimes difficult to navigate the world of therapy, however, choosing the right kind can help you achieve your goals and better your mental health.
Psychotherapy may be a better option for someone who:
- Has emotional or mental health challenges that affect their daily life and relationships
- Is coping with past trauma or is negatively affected by past situations
- Has tried counseling and found it to be ineffective
- Has a diagnosed mental illness
- Is experiencing chronic or recurring emotional or mental difficulties
Counseling may be a better option for someone who:
- Is experiencing a short-term specific problem
- Dealing with a life adjustment such as losing a loved one or divorce
- Looking to learn coping skills to manage stress or anxiety
- Coping with substance or alcohol dependence
- Looking for guidance and support
Contact us today to learn more about what therapy options are best for you!
As an avid researcher, I pull from 30 years of practice and study in various additional psychotherapeutic and health disciplines- incorporating nutrition and movement-based strategies, yoga, meditation, biofeedback, energy psychology and expressive arts.
