You may have heard of lots of different types of counselling and therapy. Sometimes it can leave you feeling very confused- how on earth do you pick?!

My approach is 'integrative' which is to say I often mix and match a variety of techniques from the different approaches dependent on the client. All people are different, so it stands to reason that there will be differences in the way counselling is approached!

“Psychotherapy involves conversations with a listener who is trained to help you make sense of, and try to change, things that are troubling you. It is something you take an active working part in, rather than something you are just prescribed or given, such as medication.” (from BPC website)

To save you trawling the internet, here is a brief explanation of the types of counselling you might come across.

All types of therapy come under a school of thought. There are 3 main schools. Although many counsellors, myself included, will take theories from multiple schools in their practice.

Humanistic: This includes person centred, gestalt, existential therapies, This school looks at people’s potential for growth and development and how you can change your life in positive ways. Within it you explore not specific events but your experiencing of your life and how you view the world and your relationships with others. The emphasis is on being client led; you decide the direction of therapy. The counsellor doesn’t offer solutions but helps you form your own. This type of counselling is about you learning what your values and strengths are and how to apply these to life’s problems.

Psychodynamic & Psychoanalytic
The psychodynamic & psychoanalytic schools look at how unconscious or deeply buried thoughts and feelings are present in our everyday responses. The aim is to bring these repressed experiences and emotions, often from childhood, into conciousness and examine them. By examining them we can understand ourselves better and can bring about meaningful change.

Difference between psychoanalysis and psychodynamic
Freud started psychoanalysis but it has been expanded a lot more since him. Psychoanalysis is it’s own thing- whilst it still is a form of therapy, psychoanalytic therapists undergo different training to psychotherapists and sessions are often more frequent (2-5 times a week instead of 1). They often use things such as dream interpretation. Psychoanalytic also does not explore conscious thoughts.

Whilst psychodynamic also explores the unconscious mind, more focus is given to the relationship between client and therapist. The idea is that the relationship between therapist and client is a microcosm of the client’s relationship with the rest of the world. The unconscious and conscious thoughts are both examined and processed.

Behavioural

The behavioural school encompasses a range of therapies, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectal Behavioural Therapy (DBT) and Schema therapy.

These therapies essentially look at how our thoughts impact our feelings and mood and how our thoughts and feelings impact the way we behave. This therapy then uses a series of exercises that you apply in every day life to help you to change your feelings and behaviours.