About Psychotherapy and Counselling
What are counselling and psychotherapy?
There are all sorts of definitions for these two terms, in my work I define them as,
Counselling
This is short term therapy that is focused on a specific, fairly recent problem such as a bereavement, job loss or separation. It usually last 6 - 12 weeks. Sometimes, people begin addressing an issue with counselling and later decide to look at an underlying phenomena more closely in psychotherapy. This is a fluid transition.
Psychotherapy
This is long term therapy that explores older, deeper rooted issues such as persistent relationship difficulties, early life neglect or trauma, addictions, on-going depression and mental health problems. This work is typically open-ended with regular reviews to determine progress and consider how long psychotherapy will continue.
Do they work?
Yes, in a broad study of the effectiveness of talking therapies* researchers (Hubble, Duncan & Miller) found that 75% of clients significantly improved after twenty-six weekly sessions. Shorter work can also be very beneficial but it must be appropriate for the issue being addressed, research indicates that 50% of people significantly improved after five to ten weekly sessions of therapy.
How do they work?
It appears that the positive effects of counselling and psychotherapy generally occur in a chronological order. First, morale is improved, i.e. hope and faith in one's ability to find a way forward is renewed. Second, symptoms improve as the client and therapist become familiar with the problematic issue and generate new perspectives and solutions. Third, permanent changes occur in the characteristic manner the client thinks about and responds to the issue.
* The Heart and Soul of Change: What Works in Therapy,
by Hubble, Duncan & Miller (1999), Publisher: American Psychological Association
If you would like to see if therapy can help you do drop me a line or call, there is no charge or obligation attached.
