Enrolling in any type of counseling program needs a strong commitment on the part of the person in distress. So, to get the most out of the counseling process, it is critical to choose the right form of counseling or the right type of therapist who is skilled in the area that you plan to focus on. For instance, if you have dependency issues, an addiction counselor is the right therapist to contact while if you have deep-rooted issues, a psychotherapist is the best bet.
So, what makes a psychotherapist suited for certain situations? And when should you go for a Vaughan psychotherapist instead of a counselor? Well, let’s first understand what counseling and psychotherapy entail.
Counseling
Counseling involves two parties working together to solve a problem. Essentially, a counselor is an adviser. The term itself is used in referring to many types of advice-giving processes, including spiritual guidance, financial planning, and life coaching among others. So, anybody who has the role of giving advice may be called a counselor.
Counseling is also used to refer to the relationship between a psychotherapist and their clients. In this context, the counselor provides guidance and support as the clients figure out the best ways to manage their life and adjust to adversity or change.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a long-term treatment that’s often focused on unveiling the cause of a physical or emotional problem. In particular, it focuses on an individual’s thought processes and how they may be influenced by past events to the extent that they become an issue in the present. Common types of psychotherapy include cognitive behavioral therapy, psychoanalytic psychotherapy, and dialectical behavior therapy among others.
Roles of a counselor vs. a psychotherapist
Although a therapist may offer both counseling and psychotherapy services, the latter requires more skills. In most cases, psychotherapy is conducted by trained experts such as psychologists, psychiatrists, trained counselors, or social workers.
A psychotherapist is qualified to offer counseling services but a counselor may not have the necessary skills to offer psychotherapy services. That said, there are situations that a therapist may provide counseling services and a counselor may play a psychotherapeutic role.
When to opt for Vaughan psychotherapist
Here are the top situations when consulting a Vaughan psychotherapist makes more sense:
- When you have a psychological issue that has built up over a long period
- When you want to understand your thought processes more clearly
- When you want to identify the root cause of your emotional issues
- When you have sought the help of a counselor and your problem has not been solved or improved
- When certain situations in your past may be playing a role in your current issues
- You have a chronic medical condition such as cancer, HIV/AIDS or an autoimmune disorder that’s affecting your emotional well-being
- You have been diagnosed with mental disorders such as a major anxiety disorder or bipolar disorder.
Bottom-line
While psychotherapy will allow you to examine your actions and feelings to help you learn how to cope or adjust where appropriate, counseling allows you to focus more on your personal development and create necessary adjustments in your life. Knowing the best type of therapy to go for at a given time will help you better understand the process involved and what to do to get the most of out the therapy you choose.
