Counselling vs Therapy - What's the Difference?

Counselling and Therapy Compared: Goals, Duration & Benefits

Mental health plays a vital role in our daily well-being, yet many feel unsure where to turn for support. Understanding the key differences between a counsellor and a therapist can empower you to make the best choice for your mental health journey.

What are the Major Differences between Counselling and Therapy?

Here is the list of major differences between therapy and counselling:

What are the Different Types of Therapy?

Different types of psychotherapies are available, which can help in addressing different psychological or mental issues.

Here are the different types of therapies:

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

This counselling approach focuses on investigating an individual’s thoughts, behaviours, and feelings. During the procedure, a therapist actively works with the individual to reveal unhealthy patterns and the ways they are causing self-destructive behaviours and then changes those horrendous behaviours and thinking styles.   

Interpersonal Therapy

Therapists analyse the interpersonal relationships of the client with others and their perceptions towards them. It usually aims to improve the individual’s interpersonal skills.  Understanding the interpersonal relationships of the individual can alleviate symptoms of mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety.  

Psychodynamic Therapy

Psychodynamic therapy aims at making individuals aware of their unconscious thoughts and feelings that are causing disorders like poor self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and relationship difficulties. The major goal of this counselling approach is to improve how an individual feels about themself and how they can cope with stress or anxiety.  

Mentalisation-Based Therapy   

It helps individuals to understand and perceive their feelings and consider the feelings of others. Collectively, it focuses on improving the skills of mentalising in individuals suffering from conditions such as trauma or anxiety.

Which Mental Health Professionals Can Help in Dealing with Mental Issues?

Different types of health professionals can provide various types of psychotherapies:

Psychiatrists

• They are certified doctors who specialise in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, including prescribing medicines. Sometimes, they may provide psychotherapy as a part of their treatment. However, some of them will refer to another mental health provider for this particular treatment.

Psychologist

• Psychologists diagnose and treat mental illness, along with psychotherapy procedures. They perform different psychological tests to understand the psychology of their clients. 

Professional Clinical Counsellor

• They are trained to help affected individuals identify goals and potential solutions to several emotional problems. Additionally, they encourage their clients to improve coping skills and promote self-esteem and behavioural changes.  

Counselling offers short-term, solutions-focused support for immediate challenges like stress or relationships, while therapy addresses long-term emotional patterns, trauma, and diagnosed mental health conditions through deeper exploration. Both provide safe, evidence-based care, but therapy’s in-depth approach targets root causes, whereas counselling equips practical coping strategies.