Counselling and
Psychotherapy
Unfortunately, there are no
precise definitions of these terms with which all therapists
agree. Depending on local usage and ways of working the
terms are often used somewhat interchangeably. Nevertheless most
counsellors and psychotherapists would agree that there are some
essential differences between the two.
The Psychotherapy and
Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) defines
Psychotherapy and Counselling as
"professional
activities that utilise an interpersonal relationship to
enable people to develop understanding about themselves
and to make changes in their lives. Professional
Psychotherapists and Counsellors work within a clearly
contracted, principled relationship that enables
individuals to obtain assistance in exploring and
resolving issues of an interpersonal, intrapsychic, or
personal nature".
Professional Psychotherapists
and Counsellors utilise theory and advanced interpersonal skills
to facilitate the development of the client so as to improve
their functioning in their world. They can both work with
clients to a considerable depth.
The focus of Counselling is
more likely to be on specific problems or changes in life
adjustment. Counselling is more likely to be utilised for work
in areas where the development of knowledge and skills
is needed (e.g. improving family and relationship communication,
addictions, managing panic attacks, managing anger outbursts,
acute depression).
Psychotherapy is more concerned
with the development of insight and understanding to facilitate
changes to your way of being and responding to others and
yourself. Psychotherapy is about ongoing development of a
stronger sense of self and the development of an internally
consistent sense of who you are. Psychotherapists are more
likely to work very intensively, over a longer period of time
with more complex interpersonal problems. They will often work
best with people who have realised that they have experienced a
series of problematical relationships, see recurring patterns in
their life, or are aware of a sense of deep seated
dissatisfaction with life that does not go away.
