What is Counseling?

Counseling refers to relatively brief intervention work, often focused on behavioral modification; though can also include spiritual guidance among other things. Counseling will focus on a specific problem or symptom, or specific set of problems or symptoms, utilizing advice and suggestions, and providing problem solving assistance.  

 

What is Psychotherapy?

Psychotherapy is often a longer term treatment which focuses more on gaining insight into chronic physical and emotional problems. It's focus is on the client's thought processes and way of being in the world rather than specific problems. The process involves the client and therapist sitting in a room talking, which is why it is often called "talk therapy". Goals include symptom relief, mood improvement, improved thinking and behaving patterns, insight and personality growth.

 

Counseling and Psychotherapy;

There is often a lot of overlap between counseling and psychotherapy. A therapist may provide counseling with specific concerns and a counselor may function in a psychotherapeutic way in relationship with the client. Psychotherapy generally requires more skill and training than simple counseling, and is practiced by appropriately trained mental health professionals. A psychotherapist is qualified to provide counseling; a counselor may not be qualified to provide psychotherapy.

 

What is Hypnotherapy?

Hypnotherapy is a form of psychodynamic psychotherapy, also utilized in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. See Hypnosis FAQ.

 

What is Coaching?

Coaching is used to develop effective life goals and skills toward enhanced functioning and happier living. This may also include parenting instruction.

 

If I’m in therapy, am I ‘sick’?

Psychotherapy aims to treat people who are having difficulties functioning at home, at work, at school, in relationships, or with meaning in life. These challenges are more common than we think. This could be the result of a mental illness, or challenges with positive thinking, life patterns, emotion regulation and behavior management. A diagnosis is simply a means to conceptualize one’s challenges in life. It is the philosophy of this practice that diagnoses are tools, nothing more and clients are encouraged not to identify with a diagnosis, but rather to focus on therapy and recovery. Perhaps your symptoms have lead to a diagnosis, however the aim in psychotherapy is to look more deeply into the emotions, conflicts and distress behind these diagnoses.

 

How long will it take?

The length of treatment is determined by collaboration between you and the therapist following assessment, and continued collaboration throughout treatment. A brief course of psychotherapy would last about six to twelve weeks, and long term individual therapy can last for a couple of years. The benefits of psychotherapy can continue long after the treatment period itself has finished.

 

How often are the sessions?

Twice per week to once every two weeks.

 

How long are the sessions?

A ‘therapy hour’ is 50 minutes.

 

What are the benefits?

Research indicates that psychotherapy is effective in reducing symptoms, developing insight, improving relationships and one’s self esteem. It is not possible to predict the specific benefits for everyone from the start as everyone is unique. The exploration and the journey, the process, is often as important as the goals.

 

Does it work?

Decades of research support the efficacy of psychotherapy. The important thing to keep in mind is that change occurs with the client’s participation in relationship with the therapist. Healing is not done to you, it is journeyed by you and with you. The therapist facilitates healing in partnership with the true healer- the client him or herself.