Counselling is a talking therapy, where you can discuss your emotions, thoughts and behaviours with a trained professional in a safe and confidential space.

In the UK the difference between counselling and psychotherapy is not clear cut or agreed upon, with trainings and practices sharing a lot in common, and the terms often being used interchangeably. 

Counselling is sometimes associated with shorter-term work, and a shorter or less in depth training. Psychotherapy is sometimes associated with longer term work and a longer or more in depth training. However this isn’t always the case. 

The term ‘Therapist’ is often used generally to describe any type of talking therapist

There a lot of different therapies out there and it can be quite overwhelming when trying to choose which one suits you. 

Some people find it helpful to understand some of the broad categories that many of the different therapies fall under.

• Humanistic: These therapies acknowledge a potential for healing and growth in all of us and the therapist aims to support us to access this potential for ourselves. The individual’s unique personal experience is key. Humanistic therapies include person-centred therapy, gestalt therapy, and existential therapy as well as many others. 

• Psychoanalytic and Psychodynamic: These therapies have a focus on our unconscious mind and often look at our past experiences. The therapist will encourage you to talk about your experiences and may also share their own interpretations or analysis. Psychoanalytic and Psychodynamic therapies include, Psychoanalysis, Psychoanalytical therapy, Psychodynamic therapy,  Jungian psychotherapy, as well as others. 

• Behavioural or cognitive behavioural: These therapies are concerned with the effect our thoughts and behaviours have on the way we feel. They work with these thoughts and behaviours to help improve the way we feel. The therapist will generally lead this process and will often give tasks to do outside of the sessions. Behavioural or cognitive behavioural therapies include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy and others.

• Integrative: These therapies acknowledge that there is no one method to suit all of us at all times. Integrative therapists involve aspects of different types of therapy into their practice to suit the individual. There are different ways that therapists might do this and some may have a ‘core’ approach or philosophy.

Sometimes people can find it hard to know how to choose a counsellor or psychotherapist even if they know what sort of therapy they are looking for. The following are some helpful tips

•  Choose someone who ‘feels’ right for you. This is really important and some people may argue is more important than the type of therapy being offered. Therapy is a very personal thing. Spend some time reading therapist’s entries on directories or their websites. You’ll probably get a sense of who you might like to work with. If you want to get more of a sense about someone or want to ask them a bit more about how they work, try to arrange a conversation with them. Some therapists offer a free initial meeting for you both to get to know each other and ask questions. 
•  Choose someone who is a member of a well known and respected professional association or organisation such as the British Association for counsellors and psychotherapists (BACP) or the United Kingdom council for psychotherapy. Counselling and psychotherapy are unregulated in the UK so anyone can call themselves a counsellor or psychotherapist. Membership to one of the associations/organisations mentioned above ensures a very specific level of training and a set of ethics for practice.
• If after one or two sessions you don’t think a therapist is right for you, talk to them about this and try a different one.