Counsellor Vs. Therapist UK: Exploring Mental Health Providers And Types Of Therapy
Counselling and psychotherapy are mental health treatment methods that can help participants address psychological concerns and life challenges. While these two approaches share several characteristics, they also differ in a few ways. Understanding the differences between counselling and therapy can help you determine which format might be right for you and find a professional who fits your needs. Below, we’re providing overviews of counselling and therapy, discussing the differences between these approaches, and covering some options for finding counsellors and therapists in the United Kingdom.
What is counselling?
Counselling is a mental health approach that allows participants to receive guidance and support for specific life challenges. Counselling is generally considered a brief, goal-oriented form of mental health care—one that may last anywhere from a couple of sessions to regular appointments over a few months. The concerns addressed by counsellors are often specific and temporary.
An example of a specific challenge that a counsellor could help address is emotional support after the loss of a loved one. A grief counsellor can create a safe space where the client can share and address complex emotions. They can also help the client find healthy ways to cope with the loss and care for themselves during their grieving process.
Types of counselling
Counsellors can specialize in several different disciplines, allowing them to help individuals address different stressors and life challenges. The following are common forms of counselling:
- Career counselling
- Mental health counselling
- Academic counselling
- Marriage and family counselling
- Interpersonal counselling
- Substance use counselling
- Child and adolescent counselling
A professional who provides counselling may be a mental health counsellor, social worker, marriage and family counsellor, counselling psychologist, or school counsellor. Counsellors in the UK may work in academic settings, individual practices, hospitals, or community centers.
Depending on their speciality, counsellors in the UK must complete various forms of training, including education on counselling techniques and supervised practical experience. Some may also register with a governing body, like the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.
What is therapy?
Psychotherapy, also called talk therapy or simply therapy, is a widely utilized mental health treatment approach that also involves discussions between the professional and the client. Therapy is centered around identifying and treating the underlying causes of life challenges. This often means helping clients understand and manage symptoms of mental health conditions, such as depressive disorders, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and others.
Types of therapy
There are many different psychotherapeutic modalities that can help participants address various challenges, including the following:
- Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT)
- Psychodynamic therapy
- Person-centred therapy
- Emotionally focused therapy
- Gestalt therapy
- Existential therapy
Psychotherapy can be conducted in various formats, including individual, group, and family therapy sessions.
Cognitive behavioural therapy is one of the most widely utilized therapeutic modalities today. This approach focuses on the connections between an individual’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Therapists who practice CBT can help participants learn to reframe negative thought processes that may contribute to maladaptive behaviors and emotions.
For example, someone with social anxiety may believe that people are constantly judging them—despite evidence to the contrary—leading to feelings of worry, physical symptoms, and avoidance behaviors. A therapist can help the individual learn to recognize when that false belief arises, challenge it, and replace it with a more realistic thought in order to reduce symptoms.
Professionals who practice psychotherapy may be clinical psychologists, marriage and family therapists, or even psychiatrists. In the UK, these individuals may work within public services, such as the NHS and prison services, or individual practices.
Therapists have typically earned a postgraduate degree in psychotherapy and may have registered with the British Psychology Society (BPS) and/or the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). While these providers have undergone extensive psychotherapy training, they are not usually medical doctors, which means they normally cannot prescribe medication.
Counselling and therapy: comparing two common types of mental health care
According to the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, counselling and therapy are umbrella terms that cover a range of talking therapies. Counselling and therapy have several similarities, and the two terms are often used interchangeably. Both counselling and psychotherapy provide participants with a forum to discuss challenges, allowing them to receive guidance, express their feelings, and develop solutions for their concerns. However, these methods are also different in various ways.
Counselling is typically a short-form, focused treatment method. Counsellors often help clients target a specific concern in their lives, then work with them to develop a solution. Therapy, on the other hand, can be a longer-form, broader approach to mental health care. Therapists often focus on helping participants understand how various psychological, social, and environmental factors interact to contribute to emotional and mental challenges.
For example, a counsellor may help a client develop effective communication techniques that they can use in the workplace. A therapist, on the other hand, could help the same individual understand how their upbringing may have shaped the way they interact with others and help them heal from childhood experiences that are impacting their interpersonal behaviors. Psychotherapy may also be geared toward helping people address more complex mental health conditions, such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or borderline personality disorder.
Career challenges, relationship conflict, and other concerns counselling can help address
People seek guidance from counsellors for a variety of reasons. The following are examples of some potential challenges a counsellor might help address.
Career challenges
Career counsellors are a specific type of professional that may or may not also have training in mental health care. They can help participants develop a career path, prepare for the job search, and develop skills that will benefit their professional life. They may also give clients suggestions for managing the stress that can come with the job search.
Relationship concerns
Often, couples can benefit from the perspective of an unbiased third party. A relationship counsellor can help partners address sources of tension in their relationship and take steps toward improved communication, better conflict resolution, or enhanced intimacy.
Stress and other common mental health challenges
While therapy is commonly utilized to help improve client mental health, challenges related to the psyche can also be addressed by counselling. Counsellors often help individuals address concerns like stress, depression, or anxiety.
Depression, eating disorders, and other concerns therapy can help address
Because psychotherapy is about identifying the sources of an individual’s challenges, managing mental illnesses is a common goal of this treatment type. Talk therapy is the first-line treatment for many mental health conditions and it may be recommended on its own or in conjunction with medication prescribed by a doctor or psychiatrist. A few examples of mental health conditions commonly treated in therapy are listed below, though note that a therapist can also support clients in addressing challenges of daily life like relationship troubles or high stress levels.
Depressive disorders
Depressive symptoms like persistent feelings of hopelessness, lack of motivation, and fatigue can impact all areas of an individual’s life. Therapists can help clients with depression develop coping strategies, address any comorbid conditions, and reframe negative thoughts that may be contributing to their symptoms.
Anxiety disorders
Anxiety disorders are common mental health conditions that can have significant impacts on emotional health, physical well-being, and quality of life. However, anxiety is also considered highly treatable.
Psychotherapists can assist individuals in identifying the sources of excessive fear and nervousness while helping them develop strategies for coping with anxiety. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), psychotherapy can help many clients reduce or eliminate symptoms of anxiety, often after only a few months.
Eating disorders
Therapy can help people with eating disorders develop a healthier relationship with food and address any related concerns like body dysmorphia or low self-esteem. By working with a therapist, a participant may learn more about the thought processes that lead to disordered eating while receiving treatment for any comorbid conditions.
Counsellor vs. therapist: UK options for each professional
If you’re considering working with a mental health provider in the United Kingdom, you have several options for both counsellors and therapists. Explore ways to connect with a provider below.
Using the NHS to weigh the benefits of a counsellor vs. therapist (UK)
The NHS provides extensive information about the options for counselling and therapy in the UK. If you’d like to find the right counsellor or therapist for you, consider using the NHS’s talking therapies site. You can also ask your general practitioner to provide you with a referral to a mental health professional.
Connecting with a mental health professional through online therapy
Another option for connecting with a mental health professional is an online therapy service. Paid platforms like BetterHelp serve clients in many different parts of the world, including the UK.
Potential benefits of online therapy
With an online therapy platform like BetterHelp, you can get matched with a professional based on your preferences and needs as shared in a simple questionnaire. If you want to work with a new provider or explore a different form of therapy, you can simply request another therapist, and you’ll be connected with a different professional for no extra charge. Online care also means you can attend therapy or counselling sessions virtually via phone, video, or chat from home or anywhere you have an internet connection. Clients in the UK can receive subscriptions as low as £65, billed every four weeks.
The efficacy of online therapy
There is a growing body of evidence pointing to the potential effectiveness of online therapy for varied mental health challenges. For example, in one broad-based review of studies, researchers suggest that online therapy may help alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depressive disorders. The review also notes the cost-effectiveness and convenience of online therapy compared to in-person treatment.
Takeaway
Counselling and psychotherapy are two forms of mental health treatment that have the potential to provide significant benefits to participants. Understanding these two modalities may help prospective clients navigate their path to mental wellness. Counselling is often best for more short-term, specific concerns, while therapy may be more appropriate for complex challenges, mental health conditions, and more holistic, long-term care.
Frequently asked questions
Is a counsellor better than a therapist?
Counselors offer more generalized support and often provide shorter-term services. However, the terms counselor and therapist can be used interchangeably. Unlike counselling, therapy is often more focused on mental health problems like childhood trauma or mental illness. A professional therapist may also have diploma-level training or additional training that makes them a specialist in a particular issue. Therapy may be a more long-term process. Either way, counselors and therapists are not better than one another. The option you choose can depend on the various approaches you’re interested in trying for your concern.
Can a therapist be a counsellor?
The terms therapist and counselor are often interchangeable, so a therapist can offer counselling, and a counselor may offer research-based treatments in therapy. The terms don’t necessarily represent one’s expertise or specific training. However, therapists often have a graduate degree, whereas counselors may have an undergraduate degree or another form of academic training to become registered counsellors.
How do you know if you need counseling or therapy?
If you’re looking for short-term advice, coaching, or support with a non-severe challenge, you might consider counseling. Long-term therapy or a specific therapeutic modality may be helpful for those living with a mental illness. However, both therapy and counseling tend to focus on well-being and can be based on a unique theory or evidence-based practice. The therapeutic relationship between you and your provider may be more important than the type of counseling or therapy you choose.
Can counsellors diagnose clients in the UK?
In the UK, general counselors cannot diagnose mental illnesses officially. Only clinical psychologists and counseling psychologists can make an official diagnosis for insurance purposes or the client’s knowledge. In addition, counselors cannot prescribe medication.
Why is therapy so expensive in the UK?
Therapy can be expensive in the UK because of the high demand for services and a lack of affordable insurance options. However, affordable and free options do exist, and clients may find these by searching online.
How does counselling work in the UK?
In the UK, counseling is similar to other locations but may not be as focused on intensive treatment and specialized modalities as therapy or psychiatry. Counselors tend to support clients with daily life, career, and other challenges. A counselor can act as a life coach but also has training in mental health support techniques.
Can counsellors diagnose clients in the UK?
Counselors cannot diagnose a mental illness in the UK. Only psychologists are permitted to make official diagnoses in the UK. However, counselors may refer a clients for psychoanalysis and may be able to support them with daily challenges and symptoms that arise from a mental health condition.
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