“Counseling and Therapy” & “Counseling Services”

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Andrew Guthrie

 
Toronto Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist

Counseling , Therapy & Counseling Services

This article aims to define and explore counseling as a therapy that may be used to manage various difficulties, including stress, anxiety, anger, and relationship problems.

Counseling can be defined as:

• something that provides direction or advice as to a decision or course of action.

Counseling and therapy are terms that are often used interchangeably. However, therapy is a more general term that can be defined as:

• the act of caring for someone

Counseling is specific orientation of psychotherapy that provides more:

• Direction
• Advice
• Structure

than many other therapies, which may be more open-ended and exploratory. Counseling services may be for you if you prefer

• Being actively guided
• A more concrete approach
• Directness
• Focusing on solutions not problems

Counseling services might also be for you if you struggle with:

• Forming clear thoughts
• Reflecting on how you feel
• Verbalizing your feelings
• An open-ended therapy approach

Counseling services may be particularly helpful for:

• Brief therapy (10-20 sessions)
• Recent stress related to
  1. Loss of a loved one
  2. Divorce
  3. Job transition
• Parenting help

Compared to counseling services, other therapies may be longer term, more frequently used to treat longer-standing or chronic difficulties, including personality disorders, and may be less solution-focused and aimed more at exploring the history behind a problem, in particular how it relates to relationships we have had and continue to have in the present with significant others.