DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
NAME:
CHARLES NYUNGU
REGISTRATION NUMBER:
R115700F
PROGRAM:
H.P.S III
COURSE:
PRINCIPLES OF PSYCHOTHERAPY
LECTURER:
MR MOSES
ASSIGNMENT TITLE: Provide a critical analysis of the differences and similarities of counselling and psychotherapy?
DUE DATE:
4th APRIL 2014
The terms Counseling and Psychotherapy are often used interchangeably. Though they have similar meanings with significant overlap, there are some significant peculiarities between the two that are useful to keep in mind when one is considering a mental health care provider.
The paper below will further explore on those distinctions that exist between counselling and psychotherapy. According to The Royal College of Psychiatrists (2006), counselling is a type of rehabilitation that helps people speak out and resolve their problems and work through their emotional states.The Royal college of Psychiatrists defined a counsellor as an individual who employs “counselling” as a method to resolve people’s problems.Counselors guide clients to discover their own answers and support them through the actions they choose to take.
According to COSCA (2004), psychotherapy, just like counseling, is centered on a healing relationship between health care practitioner and a client. Psychotherapy takes place over a chain of meetings, though frequently it lasts longer than counseling. Some people participate in therapy off and on over several years. Instead of tapering in on individual problems, psychotherapy reflects complete patterns, long-lasting issues, and recurring feelings. This requires an openness to exploring the past and its impact on the present. The main aim of psychotherapy is to resolve the fundamental issues which fuel ongoing grievances.
Psychotherapists assist to resolve past experiences as part of laying the base for a satisfying future. Arbuckle (1967), argues that “…counselling and
References: Arbuckle, D. S. (1967). Counselling and Psychotherapy: An Overview. New York: McGraw Hill. Bayne,R., Bimrose, J. and Horton, I. (eds) (1996). New Directions in Counselling. New York: Routledge British Confederation of Psychotherapists (1999). found at Internet URL: http://www.psychoanalysis.org.uk/bcp.htm Accessed: 15/03/2014 Chriss, J. (1999). Counselling and the Therapeutic State. New York: Aldine De Gruyter COSCA (2004) Sutton, J and Stewart, W. (2008). Learning to Counsel. 3rd Edition Oxford: How To Books.