No longer is counselling/psychotherapy seen as the province of the wealthy neurotic middle classes. As a talking therapy, it is often seen as an alternative to medication. It is seen as a support to help people to address difficult issues in their lives. It is not about giving advice or directing behaviour. It is about the client and counsellor working alongside each other to explore and work out what best serves the client to fulfil their needs and live life more fully.
The difference between counselling and psychotherapy is debateable and somewhat unclear. There are some therapists who assert that counselling and psychotherapy are the same thing. Indeed long term counselling with an experienced counsellor has similarities with counselling with an experienced psychotherapist.
One thing is clear though, there is a vast difference in the level and degree of training required today for counsellors and therapists.
Most counselling courses occur in collages and usually last 2-3 years. In psychotherapy training the average is 6 years. In addition psychotherapists have to undergo personal therapy for the duration of their training. One of the reasons for this is that we are able to experience in depth psychotherapy as a client. Psychotherapy trainee's also have to complete a clinical mental health placement, usually in a hospital, in order to experience more severe mental health illness. A trainee counsellor does not.
My personal belief, informed by my psychotherapy training is that psychotherapy offers a wider and deeper understanding of the way we relate to one another and the reasons for this.
Family patterns and childhood experiences shape much of our behaviour in the present day, and longer term therapy work can effect real changes in the way we make meaningful relationships in our lives. This allows us to let go of old restricting thoughts and behaviours and to live more in tune with our true nature.
A benefit to this will be seen in happier and more rewarding relationships with those around us, and most importantly, a better and more fulfilling relationship with ourselves!
The FIRST MEETING will be for us to discuss your situation and counselling needs and will last for approximately 50 minutes. During this session I give you information about my responsibilities concerning confidentiality, legalities and my proffessional ethics. It is also an opportunity for both of us to decide whether we wish to work together.
The difference between counselling and psychotherapy is debateable and somewhat unclear. There are some therapists who assert that counselling and psychotherapy are the same thing. Indeed long term counselling with an experienced counsellor has similarities with counselling with an experienced psychotherapist.
One thing is clear though, there is a vast difference in the level and degree of training required today for counsellors and therapists.
Most counselling courses occur in collages and usually last 2-3 years. In psychotherapy training the average is 6 years. In addition psychotherapists have to undergo personal therapy for the duration of their training. One of the reasons for this is that we are able to experience in depth psychotherapy as a client. Psychotherapy trainee's also have to complete a clinical mental health placement, usually in a hospital, in order to experience more severe mental health illness. A trainee counsellor does not.
My personal belief, informed by my psychotherapy training is that psychotherapy offers a wider and deeper understanding of the way we relate to one another and the reasons for this.
Family patterns and childhood experiences shape much of our behaviour in the present day, and longer term therapy work can effect real changes in the way we make meaningful relationships in our lives. This allows us to let go of old restricting thoughts and behaviours and to live more in tune with our true nature.
A benefit to this will be seen in happier and more rewarding relationships with those around us, and most importantly, a better and more fulfilling relationship with ourselves!
The FIRST MEETING will be for us to discuss your situation and counselling needs and will last for approximately 50 minutes. During this session I give you information about my responsibilities concerning confidentiality, legalities and my proffessional ethics. It is also an opportunity for both of us to decide whether we wish to work together.
