Question1: Analyse the similarities and differences between counselling
and psychotherapy making reference to the use of the terms
‘counsellor’ and ‘psychotherapist’
This assignment will critically consider the points of similarities and
differences between counselling and psychotherapy. Firstly it will give
definitions for counselling and psychotherapy. Then it will outline the broad
arguments for differences between the two and try to analyse the validity of
these assertions.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists (2006a) defines counselling simply as, ‘a
type of psychotherapy which helps people address and resolve their problems
and work through their feelings’. They describe a counsellor (2006b) as
‘someone who uses, “counselling” to solve people’s problems or plan for the
future’ and who ‘may work with individual patients, in pairs or groups’.1
Stedman’s Medical Dictionary defines psychotherapy as, “treatment of
emotional, behavioural, personality, and psychiatric disorders based primarily
upon verbal or nonverbal communication with the patient, in contrast to
treatments utilizing chemical and physical measures”. The same source
defines counselling as, “a professional relationship and activity in which one
person endeavours to help another to understand and to solve his or her
adjustment problems; the giving of advice, opinion, and instruction to direct
the judgment or conduct of another”. 2
Psychotherapy can perhaps be defined as the process in which a therapist
helps the client in the process of re-organising their personality. The therapist
also helps the client integrate insights into everyday behaviour. Counselling
may be seen as a process of helping clients overcome obstacles to personal
growth. According the professional body for counselling and psychotherapy in
Scotland, COSCA: “Counselling and psychotherapy are ways of responding to
a wide range of human needs. Counselling and psychotherapy provide
opportunities for those seeking help to work towards ways of living in more
1 Sutton,
rd
J & Stewart, W (2008) Learning to Counsel. 3 Edition Oxford: How To Books.
Electronic Medical Dictionary, (1994)
2 Stedman’s
satisfying and resourceful ways.” (2004:1)
3
Though this definition puts
counselling and psychotherapy under the same umbrella it also goes on to
say that both are constantly changing fields of practice.
Differences:
One of the differences often cited is that is that psychotherapy involves
working
in
greater
depth
than
counselling,
that
clients
see
their
psychotherapist more frequently and for a long period of time. By contrast
counselling takes place over a shorter period of time. The counsellor sees his
or her clients for a short time. Psychotherapy is about ‘deconstruction, and
‘reconstruction’ of the client’s self-concept, a process likely to be lengthy and
at a greater depth than counselling might explore.
Therefore counselling is seen to be about short term help, and psychotherapy
about longer term. Connected to this is that the focus is on the past causes of
the issues in the case of psychotherapy, and on the present issues in
counselling. Also that psychotherapy is concerned with some type of deeper
personality change; but counselling is concerned with helping individuals
develop their full coping potential in regards to some particular issue.
However this too is not so clear cut. Cosca indicates that some argue, “…that
the intensity and depth of therapeutic work can be just as great in counselling
as in psychotherapy.” (2004:4) 4
In addition some psychotherapist may offer brief therapy and some
counsellors may work with the same client for years.
Professor Paul S Morgan-Ayres makes the further point that, for him at least,
counselling is more suited to clients that are open to speaking. Psychotherapy
is better for those who find it difficult to open up, so that the psychotherapist
takes more of an active role in guiding them. He notes: As the client becomes
more able and used to talking, the process may change in to a more client
centred approach. Counselling, according to Morgan-Ayers, ‘is a process in
3 COSCA
4 COSCA
(2004) Counselling and Psychotherapy: COSCA’S Description Stirling: Cosca
(2004) Counselling and Psychotherapy: COSCA’s Description Stirling: Cosca
which the therapist is there as a ‘tour guide’ for the client, refocusing them in a
process that they are otherwise quite good at exploring themselves. Therefore
the ‘counsellor speaks very little and gives the client plenty of space to offload
and talk themselves into self-knowledge’.5
In closing it may be argued that in both counselling and psychotherapy, the
counsellor the psychotherapist’s aim to have and offer the client a nonjudgemental, safe and confidential environment where they can explore any
emotional and psychological issues they may be experiencing.
Question 2: Evaluate the reasons why a person may seek counselling:
Individuals enter into counselling for numerous reasons, ranging from a desire
for self-improvement and growth to contending with severe mental and
physical illness. Counselling and can be of great help to all of these
individuals. Below are listed some reasons people seek counselling. It is
certainly
not
exhaustive.
The reasons that people enter counselling are as diverse as the people who
seek treatment.
Some of the reasons people enter counselling or make an appointment to see
a counsellor are as follows: Normal development life changes (e.g. transitions
to college, university, new career) romantic, relationship issues. Work related
problems or financial difficulties. Chronic illness or depression. Interpersonal,
intimacy, marital, sexual and relationship issues. Feeling of sadness,
nervousness or melancholy. Coping with racism, sexism or other prejudice
and stereotyping issues. Also grief and bereavement. Eating disorders,
addiction, substance dependence or substance abuse and the list could go on
and on.
Listed above are some of the many reasons people come for counselling and
the benefits of counselling are becoming more recognised. Yet, there is still
an element of stigma attached to it in some circles and unhelpful comments
from prejudiced or unenlightened others such as, ‘counselling is a waste of
5 Morgan-Ayres
P. Prof., found at Internet URL:http://www.hpnoanalysis.co.uk/psychotherapy-analysis-counselling.htm.Accessed:06/02/2012
time and money’, ‘they do more harm than good’, ‘it’s for the self-indulgent’,
‘why can’t you pull yourself together’?6
Evaluation of the Counselling process:
Counselling helps the client to look beyond the problem and failure and
toward success.
It gets the clients to set goals in terms of definite outcomes
It challenges the client to stretch beyond the comfort zone.
It also helps or gives the clients to opportunity to explore their feelings about
what is happening.
It also helps the client to appraise constructively what should be done next.
Question 3: Discuss the importance of readiness to practice:
‘Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of
ourselves’ 7
In order for us to work effectively with clients we must be confident in
ourselves and our abilities. Feeling comfortable, communicating with
strangers and being aware of our personal limitations are good pointers that
we are ready to practice counselling. On the other hand if we get easily
frustrated with other people or often jump to conclusions, we are not ready to
practice becoming a counsellor. Our belief, attitudes and values, a selfawareness and acceptance of our inner world, being able to see the
uniqueness of the client, are some of the qualities of us being ready to
become an effective counsellor.
If we hold any preconceived views about the client or their situations we
should not entertain the idea of being a counsellor. The idea is summarised
succinctly by, Mcleod (2004:53) refers to Rogers (1975:2-10) explaining that:8
“to be with another person in this way means that for the time being you lay
aside the views and values you hold for yourself in order to enter another’s
world without prejudice. In some sense it means that you lay aside your own
6 Sutton,
7 (Carl
Jung (1875 – 1961)
(2004:53) & Rogers (1975:2-10)
8 Mcleod
rd
J & Stewart, W (2008) Learning to Counsel. 3 Edition Oxford: How To Books.
self and this can only be done by a person who is secure enough in himself
that he knows he will not get lost in what may turn out to be the strange or
bizarre world of the other and can comfortably return to his own world when
he wishes”
Counselling involves an interpersonal relationship and the counsellor must be
patient in building, developing and fostering that relationship. Someone who is
too busy or cannot establish and develop a professional interpersonal
relationship is not ready to practice.
Deffenbacher (1985) outlined what these activities are:
“Good….therapist work to build rapport, lessen interpersonal anxiety in the
relationship, increase trust, and build an interpersonal climate in which clients
can openly discuss and work on their problems. Their clients need to perceive
that they have a caring, positive, hopeful collaborator in understanding and
making changes in their world. Clients … need to feel cared for, attended to,
understood, and genuinely worked with if successful therapy is to continue”
(p. 262) 9
Another very important aspect of being ready to practice is that the counsellor
has undergone some training and has a good knowledge of some the
concepts and skills of counselling. This would help to ensure that the
counselee receives a good service. The training should include a variety of
theories based around helping the client to explore their feelings, emotions
and thoughts. Ideally it would be an advantage for both the counsellor and
client if they had some sort of supervision.
Counselling is not for the novice but for people who can demonstrate
empathy, sincerity, patience, a good listener, genuineness, respect and being
non-judgemental. To be genuine means to be yourself; to be able to accept
the good parts about yourself and be able to deal with your own
disappointments. Respect is also important, it means you value people for all
their uniqueness and does not demean anyone by our words or actions. The
9 Deffenbacher,J.
L. (1985) A cognitive-behavioural response and a modest proposal.
Counselling Psychologist, 13, 261 -269 person who can exhibit some or all of these skills or characteristics is
someone who is ready to practice.
Question 4: Write a reflective log on where you feel you are now in
regards to working towards becoming a counsellor. What knowledge
and skills do you already possess and what do you need to develop?
I am a very sociable and outgoing person. I have a warm and caring
personality, being concerned, accepting and approving of other people. I
loved being with people, surrounded by them and also helping when the need
arise. Throughout my life people have spoken positive comments and
blessings into my life. Many people have helped shaped and influence my life
from an early age, and have being instrumental in my development. This gave
me a drive and I purposed in my heart to get involved in community work from
an early age. For me it was ‘a giving or putting back’ something into the
community.
My family and friends told me that I am a very good listener. I have the ability
of being able to not only to listen to the words that are spoken but also I can
‘hear’ the feelings behind the spoken word. I demonstrate genuine empathy,
that is trying to understand how it feels to be in someone else’s shoes and
showing that I understand. I like people to treat me as I treat them. This
emanates from my personal belief in a living and loving God. A God who has
looked beyond my ‘faults and saw my needs’. I never judge anyone but
always endeavour to seek the best in people. Over the years of meeting and
dealing with people I have developed a non-judgmental approach, not being
shocked by what someone may say but accept the person and their feelings.
I am actively involved in church and community work and it was suggested by
my wife and my church leaders that it would be good for me if I undertook a
counselling course. I took their advice and enrolled on a Christian counselling
course. I took the initial introduction to Christian counselling. I passed this and
then enrolled on the advanced course. I was committed to successful
completion to become a skilled helper. Both courses taught me a lot about
myself and how I could become a more effective helper. They helped me to
move on from commitment to competence.
I wanted to be an effective counsellor and was prepared and committed to
study to improve my skills. Effective helpers like to do things well and are
prepared to work at it. I took pride in what I was doing and I was reluctant to
take any short cuts that were not in the clients’ best interest. Egan observes:
‘Competence in helping is not a goal be achieved: it is a lifelong pursuit’
(1990, p63) 10
I have also studied and completed courses in secular counselling and have
gained further knowledge and insight in different techniques and theories. For
example
Client
Centred
Approach,
Maslow’s
Hierarchy
of
Needs,
Transactional Analysis, Person-Centred Counselling and Psychodynamic
Counselling. I am a better and a more effective listener. I can deal
professionally with sensitive and confidential issues. I am never afraid or see
it as a weakness to refer clients for more specialised counselling if I can’t deal
with particular concern that a client may have.
I am currently counselling for a voluntary organisation. My desire is to be the
best I can. Mediocrity is no excuse when I can achieve excellence. Aristotle
said, ‘we are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a
habit.’ My ‘habit’ is to have a ‘win’, ‘win’, situation. Where I as the counsellor
can feel confident and competent in empowering my clients and where my
clients can effectively work through and is able to resolve their issues. My
habit is to aim for excellence. A habit is defined as ‘the intersection of
knowledge, skill and desire. Knowledge is the theoretical paradigm, the what
to do and why. Skills the how to do. And desire is the motivation, the want to
do. In order to make something a habit in our lives, we have to have all
three’.11
10 Egan,
th
G. (1990) The Skilled Helper: A Systematic Approach to Effective Helping (4 edn).
Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.
11 Covey, S. ( 2004) The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Kingsway. London
My desire and motivation was to possess all three. With this ‘habit’ in mind,
that is why I have enrolled on Level-4 Counselling and Psychotherapy course
with My Distance Learning College. This will give me even further
qualifications and may be a stepping stone of having approved status of
becoming a ‘professional’ counsellor. I am looking forward to the challenge of
more in depth learning and being able to use my acquired skills in my
counselling sessions. I am beginning with the end in mind, by this I mean my
vision is to be the best I can be. I have a sense of mission and the essence of
my own proactivity. I also have the vision and values which direct my life.
If I can help someone as I pass along then my living won’t be in vain.
References
(Carl Jung (1875 – 1961)
COSCA (2004) Counselling and Psychotherapy: COSCA’S Description
Stirling: Cosca.
Covey, S. ( 2004) The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Kingsway. London.
Deffenbacher,J. L. (1985) A cognitive-behavioural response and a modest
proposal. Counselling Psychologist, 13, 261 -269.
Egan, G. (1990) The Skilled Helper: A Systematic Approach to Effective
Helping (4th edn). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.
Mcleod (2004:53) & Rogers (1975:2-10).
Morgan-AyresP.Prof.,found-at-Internet:URL:http://www.hpnoanalysis.co.uk/psychotherapy-analysis-counselling.htm.Accessed:06/02/2012
Stedman’s Electronic Medical Dictionary, (1994).
Sutton, J & Stewart, W (2008) Learning to Counsel. 3rd Edition Oxford: How
To Books.