Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat to Know About PsychotherapyWhat to Know About CounselingSimilarities and DifferencesWhat Type of Therapy Is Best for You?Finding a Mental Health ProviderGetting Started
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What to Know About Psychotherapy
What to Know About Counseling
Similarities and Differences
What Type of Therapy Is Best for You?
Finding a Mental Health Provider
Getting Started
Psychotherapy and counseling aretherapiesused to improve mental health and well-being. While people may use the terms interchangeably because they have similarities, there are also differences.
Counseling is a short-term therapy focused on addressing specific concerns. Psychotherapy is a longer-term therapy that helps people identify and explore recurring themes and issues.
This article highlights the similarities and differences between psychotherapy and counseling. Keep reading to learn more about what to consider when choosing an approach and what to expect when connecting with a mental health provider.
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Also known as “talk therapy,” psychotherapy is a term used for various treatment techniques and can occur over the years or intermittently over time.Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT),cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and psychoanalytic therapy are some commonly known forms of psychotherapy.
Psychotherapists use different therapeutic modalities (techniques) to treat mental health conditions, including addiction andsubstance use disorders,eating disorders, anxiety and mood disorders, phobias, traumas, and more.
Counselingis shorter-term therapy that helps clients resolve specific issues. Someone might seek counseling to work on a particular issue or stressor. Once the counselor and client identify the issue, treatment focuses on how to manage it. This might be through challenging thoughts, modifying behaviors, or learning coping strategies.
Individuals engaged in counseling may expect to spend anywhere from six weeks to six months in treatment. The role of the counselor is to offer guidance and support as the client creates solutions that work for them. Types of counseling includegrief counselingandmarriage and family therapy.
Counseling and psychotherapy are both used to treat mental health concerns.Psychotherapistsand counselors work in various settings, such as schools, hospitals, community centers, private practice, and inpatient facilities. Mental health professionals offering psychotherapy or counseling have roles and titles such as licensedmental health counselors, licensed marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers, professional counselors, psychologists, andpsychiatrists.
Similarities between counseling and psychotherapy include:
A major difference between the two is the mental health provider’s level of training. Clinicians who practice psychotherapy receive extensive training to treat mental health conditions.Other differences include:
It can be difficult to know which type of professional you should see. It’s essential to consider a few factors, including your concerns, what you hope to accomplish in therapy, and how much of a commitment you can make to treatment to determine your best option.
You might consider seeing a counselor if you are:
You might think about seeing a psychotherapist if you are:
So, you know you want to talk to a mental health provider but are unsure how to find one. A good first step might be speaking with a healthcare provider you’re already established with, like your primary healthcare provider. They may be able to provide you with a referral. Other avenues you can try include:
Mental Health ResourcesIf you or a loved one are struggling with mental health concerns, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
Mental Health Resources
If you or a loved one are struggling with mental health concerns, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
Research shows that a positive therapeutic relationship is one of the best predictors of positive therapy outcomes and improvements in quality of life.So, before you embark on a journey in therapy, it’s crucial to choose a provider you trust.
Once you’ve narrowed it down to a few potential providers, ask for a consultation. Many providers offer this as an opportunity to share a little about their education, training, experience, and style. You can also use that time to share your concerns and what you hope to accomplish in therapy and discuss how you might work together.
You can talk to a few mental health providers before making a decision. Questions that might be helpful to ask when getting to know a provider include:
Determine what feels important for you to share about yourself. Give them a general sense of your concern and ask about their experience treating clients with similar circumstances. Having this conversation before committing to a provider can offer a sense of what therapy might look like with them.
Summary
Counseling and psychotherapy are types of therapy a mental health provider may offer to clients seeking to address mental health concerns and daily challenges.
Counseling tends to be short-term and focused on addressing a specific problem, like developing coping strategies. Psychotherapy tends to be longer-term and examines thoughts, feelings, and experiences throughout a person’s life and how they currently impact them.
Understanding the distinction between the two can help individuals decide which kind of therapy they want to pursue.
A Word From Verywell
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Locher C, Meier S, Gaab J.Psychotherapy: a world of meanings.Front Psychol. 2019;10:460. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00460
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).Psychotherapies.
Cook SC, Schwartz AC, Kaslow NJ.Evidence-based psychotherapy: advantages and challenges.Neurotherapeutics. 2017;14(3):537-545. doi:10.1007/s13311-017-0549-4
Barbisan GK, de Pieri LZ, Gonçalves L, et al.Positive association between therapeutic alliance and quality of life in psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive behavior therapy, and interpersonal therapy: the patient’s perspective.Front Psychiatry. 2022;12:613627. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.613627
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