What is Psychotherapy?

Psychotherapy, or personal counselling with a psychotherapist, is an intentional interpersonal relationship used to aid a person in problems of living. Analytic psychotherapy provides individualised support and as such is a personal experience, however some broad themes exist, and these are outlined here:

Psychotherapy offers a relationship where you can be heard in a safe and supportive way.

Psychotherapy allows time and space for you to get to know yourself and identify patterns of thoughts, feelings and behaviour that are troubling you.

The ways that your early life experience has shaped your personality and present experience will be explored.

In psychotherapy you can identify and address repetitive problems to achieve lasting change.

It offers new perspectives and ways to rework your personal meaning.

Psychotherapy frees up valuable energy from the past, making you available to what is happening now.

There is a great deal of evidence to confirm that a therapeutic relationship can be of benefit to someone who is experiencing emotional distress.

A therapeutic relationship is unique. When we are able to share our experience with another who truly hears us, something important happens and we are able to more fully hear ourselves. From this things that were confused and forgotten become clear.

Psychotherapy takes time and requires us to look at ourselves and our lives with courage and honesty. This can be painful and difficult.

Starting therapy may be daunting, but your therapist is there to assist you. There are many benefits to persisting with the process.

What is Counselling?

Counselling offers a safe and supportive relationship in which to focus on specific personal issues and make positive changes.

Counselling is different to psychotherapy in some ways. It is usually shorter in duration because it is primarily focussed on what is happening currently in the person’s life. Less focus is given to your early history and more to recent events and presenting issues.

Whether counselling or therapy will work best for you depends upon your situation, the reason that you are seeking assistance and what you want to get out of it.