How do I know what type of counselling is best for me? There are many types of therapy which will shape your therapist’s style and the way they work with clients. It is best to consider which of these feels right for you and fits with your style, too. In general, the following categories of therapy are the most popular: Psychodynamic: this therapeutic process helps clients understand and resolve their problems by increasing awareness of their inner worlds. In psychodynamic therapy, therapists help clients to review early-life experiences, emotions, thoughts, and beliefs to gain insight into their lives and current problems, and to understand the patterns of behaviour as a consequence. Therefore the view that a person’s issues are rooted in the past generally involves much exploration and will be longer-term treatment. Humanistic: Considers the holistic view of the individual exploring how a person feels in the here and now, rather than trying to identify past events that led to these feelings. The therapist respects the relationship with the client as one of an equal nature, helping to emphasise a person’s positive traits and behaviours and helping to realise the potential of the individual. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: This is a more practically-focused, goal-orientated type of therapy and looks at the relationship between thoughts, feelings and behaviour. This type of therapy is much more interactive and involves more of a contributory role from the client, with some assignments to be completed outside of therapy. Short-term solution focused: As the name suggests, this is short-term focused work and looks at how the individual can work on making positive changes for the future. As this approach is practical and goal-driven, it does not focus on the historic problems of the client so much, but focuses on what is possible and changeable looking forward. Integrative: Is a mix of all of these and more, based on what works best for the client.
What is the difference between counselling and psychotherapy? Very little! The terms are used interchangeably, but typically, people offering short-term support tend to call themselves counsellors whilst longer-term, theory-taught practitioners call themselves psychotherapists. In reality, there is a huge overlap and in practice you will see counsellors and psychotherapists doing both.
Are you registered with a professional organisation and do you have insurance? I am a member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and as such am bound by its ethical framework for good practice in counselling and psychotherapy. Please refer to www.bacp.co.uk for further information. I have a yearly DBS check and I have professional indemnity insurance.