What are the most frequently asked questions about psychotherapy? Seeking a psychotherapist or counsellor can feel very daunting, especially if you’re struggling, or just not feeling great. And there are so many types of therapy out there it can be hard to know which one is the best. Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions:
What’s the difference between psychotherapy and counselling?
There is a lot of overlap, the terms are often used interchangeably, and “therapy” can refer to either, which can be confusing.
Psychotherapy training is longer and more in depth, it requires the trainee to be in weekly therapy themselves for at least the 4 years of training. This guarantees that a psychotherapist has done a lot of work on understanding and healing themselves before they sit opposite you! The depth of training means that psychotherapy can be a better choice for long term work leading to real change at a deep and sustainable level.
What can psychotherapy help with?
Examples of things that might bring someone to therapy:
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A major life event or transition
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Anxiety or depression
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Low self-esteem
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Eating distress or disorders
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Self harm
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Personality disorders
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ADHD or Autism
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Feeling stuck or joyless
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Relationship difficulties
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Past trauma or CPTSD
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To explore identity, gender or sexuality
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To better understand who you are and what you want from your life
How long does psychotherapy take?
This varies a lot depending on what you hope to achieve. If you aren’t sure what you need we can talk about it in the initial session and review progress and how you’re feeling about it as we go on.
- Short term: Some people come for support around something specific, such as a bereavement or a big life decision, wanting to learn how to regulate their emotions better, or to better understand their patterns in relationships. In these cases someone may feel they have achieved what they want over a course of weeks or a few months.
- Long term: a lot of people approach psychotherapy as an ongoing commitment, often over several years, wanting to learn about themselves and what they have been through, learn how to live and feel better, and to have better relationships. It has taken each of us a lifetime (so far) to become who we are. Really getting to know ourselves and making meaningful change at a deep level takes time, commitment and support.
How to check a psychotherapist is qualified
A good Psychotherapist or Counsellor will be very happy to tell you about their qualifications if you ask.Â
Psychotherapist and Counsellor are not currently protected titles, which means anyone can use them without enough (or any!) training. Qualified Psychotherapists and Counsellors can choose to register with a professional body. This body sets ethical standards, ensures members have appropriate training, and have a complaints procedure for clients. Here are a few of the largest – you can search their directories for registered practitioners:
UKCP (UK Council for Psychotherapy)
BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
NCPS (National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society)
And here is the full list of membership bodies overseen by the Professional Standards Authority.
There are also several independent directories that check therapists are registered with a professional body before including them, such as Counselling Directory or Psychology Today.