DO I NEED COUNSELLING OR PSYCHOTHERAPY?

I sometimes get asked what’s the difference between counselling and psychotherapy? Often they refer to the same thing. There is usually some counselling and psychotherapy taking place in every therapy session. However, in counselling, the client and therapist typically work together to address a specific problem. Once that problem is resolved, the client often chooses to finish and this is usually after a relatively short timeframe, for example, 6 weeks. I frequently suggest to clients that we work for 6 weeks, and then you decide whether to finish or go further.

MY APPROACH

My training is in person centred, integrative counselling and psychotherapy. Person centred therapy is a non-directive approach, believing that if a client is working with a therapist who embodies the core conditions of empathy, unconditional positive regards and congruence or genuineness then the persons realises his/her potential and awakens the ability to make the right choices for him or herself.

Integrative counselling comes from the belief that there is no one theory that can explain the huge differences in human behaviour. Therefore, integrative counselling selects different ideas and methods from a variety of theories and uses them in a complimentary way, so they can fit the uniqueness of the clients’ and therapists’ personality and style.

MINDFULNESS BASED CBT

In more recent years, I’ve studied and practised mindfulness. In my work with clients, I often use Mindfulness Based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or (MBCT). MBCT was adapted from the Buddhist tradition as a way for people to help themselves. While the concept is simple, we can find the practice challenging. The training involves some simple meditation practices as well as training in moment-to-moment everyday awareness. Mindfulness is a way of bringing your awareness deliberately to the present moment and accepting what you find, as opposed to judging it or wanting to change it.

Mindfulness has been scientifically studied all over the world and the benefits are generally agreed as including the following:

• Improves sleep
• Increases the ability in coping with pain and loss
• Boosts your immune system
• Helps to decrease depression and prevent relapse
• Lessen anxiety
• Reduces compulsive behaviour
• Aids with dealing with anger
• Increases self-confidence and self-acceptance
• Improves brain function (memory, empathy, creativity)
• Lifts mood
• Increases calm and relaxation
• Increases energy levels and enthusiasm for living