What is the difference between counselling , psychotherapy and psychological therapy?
Distinguishing between counselling and psychotherapy is difficult as there is no definitive distinction between the terms and in practice there is much overlap between them. However, counselling usually refers to short-term therapy which is focussed on a specific problem or life issue. Psychotherapy is generally longer term therapy which addresses deeper issues, perhaps stemming from childhood. Psychological therapy is an umbrella term which encompasses all of the “talking therapies”. Counsellors are usually only trained in a single therapeutic model and are therefore limited to working with the same approach with each client. Psychotherapists and counselling psychologists are generally required to be graduates and have a longer, more intensive training. Whilst psychotherapists also usually train in a particular approach, counselling psychologists are required to train in at least three therapeutic approaches so that they can combine aspects from each in their practice.
