Useful Info

 

Counselling terminology can be confusing as you will discover with even the most cursory search on the internet.

Broadly speaking the terms ‘Counselling’, ‘Therapy’, and ‘Psychotherapy’ are similar and refer to the process of meeting with a professionally trained person to help you resolve your social or personal problems

Counsellor is a general term used to describe professionals who offer counselling services. eg: relationship or family counsellor. At other times the term can simply refer to someone working in a clinical role in the mental health field.

A registered counsellor has specific training in counselling theory and skills, as well as clinical experience of face-to-face counselling.

A psychotherapist is also similarly trained in counselling skills and theory, but may work in greater depth.  Another commonly used term is therapist.

Therapists may use a variety of techniques eg: psychotherapy, art therapy or hypnotherapy to help clients improve overall mental health. Clients may seek a therapist for anything from relationship problems to career counselling and stress management.

Hypnotherapists are trained professionals who help you use your own powerful mind to increase motivation or change behavior patterns by inducing a trance state. When hypnotised, your mind is operating in its subconscious mode.

A psychiatrist is a specialist trained medical doctor who offers diagnostic evaluation and a treatment programme including drugs or psychological therapy.

Psychologists follow the scientific study of all forms of human and animal behaviour, and are concerned with the methods through which behaviour can be modified.

*Disclaimer: Above information is supplied as an overview and for general reference only.