The terms counseling and psychotherapy are often used interchangeably, but there can be a subtle and distinctive difference intended when some professionals use these terms.
Counseling typically focuses on specific issues and is designed to help a person address a particular problem, such as addiction or stress management. Counseling is a relatively brief treatment focused mostly on behaviors by fostering awareness and discernment for dealing with the issue in question. The focus may be on problem solving or on learning specific techniques for coping with or avoiding problem areas. It may be wellness-based and provide increased insight and learning in order to overcome problems and challenges.
Psychotherapy is typically more long-term than counseling and focuses on a broader range of issues. Psychotherapy is often treatment-based to address mental health issues such as mood disorders, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, etc. Psychotherapy focuses on gaining insight into chronic physical and emotional problems. Its focus is often on the client’s thought processes and way of being in the world, rather than on a limited list of specific problems. Depending on the specific type of psychotherapy that is being used, the goal is to help people feel better equipped to manage stresses, understand patterns in their behavior that may interfere with reaching personal goals, have more satisfying relationships, and better regulate their thinking and emotional responses to stressful situations. If someone has a form of mental illness such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or an anxiety disorder, psychotherapy also addresses ways in which the illnesses affect his/her daily life, focuses on how to best understand the illness, manage its symptoms, and follow medical recommendations.
Even though there can be differences, the professional who is facilitating the counseling or psychotherapy is frequently the same person. The approach employed is determined by the presenting needs of the client. Obviously, counseling and psychotherapy can overlap. A therapist can provide counseling in certain situations and a counselor can use psychotherapy in his/her approach. Both psychotherapy and counseling can use the same therapeutic theories and frameworks. However, generally, psychotherapy is conducted by professionals trained to practice psychotherapy such as registered psychologists, social workers, or psychotherapists. While a psychotherapist is qualified to provide counseling services, a counselor may or may not have the training and skills to provide psychotherapy.
