4 Differences Between Therapy and Counseling

Therapy and Counseling have many similarities. They both need certification to practise; they both require basic communication skills; they both require observation and attention to detail; and they’re both effective mental health techniques. 

However, despite these similarities, Therapy and Counseling are different. Here are the differences between Therapy and Counseling. 

Intensity and Technique

Both therapy and counseling involves listening to and understanding a patient, being observant, and record keeping. But therapy is more intense because it concentrates on deep-seated issues that may be rooted in the past, like abuse, trauma, or PTSD.

Also, aside from basic listening and communication skills, therapy can involve complex processes like evaluation of the nervous system and EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) to evaluate patients. 

On the other hand, counseling involves less complex processes like communication, attentiveness, and patience to examine and evaluate patients. 

Duration

Therapy is more long-term; it usually ranges between a few months to years. But counseling is more short-term; it usually runs between a few weeks to a few months. The duration of both techniques is based on the kind of issues they treat. 

For instance, therapy treats in-depth and deep-rooted mental health conditions like PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder), Depression, and Anxiety. 

Counseling deals with more general life issues like career choice, interpersonal communication skills, goal-setting, marriage, childbirth, et cetera. 

Approach to problem-solving

Counseling focuses on what’s wrong and what can be done about it. But therapy is more concerned with what is happening, why, and how it started. 

Therapy is set to discover patterns in events, behavioral changes, and habits of the conscious and subconscious mind. Therapy’s approach is not only intense but also more extensive than Counseling.

Focus

Therapy focuses on the patient’s entire personality, experiences, behavior, feelings, thought patterns, and actions. But counseling focuses on the patient’s particular problem at a specific period.

What Next? 

Now that you know the differences between Therapy and Counseling, it’s left to you to decide which one works best for you. 

If you have any questions or concerns, drop a comment in the comment box or contact us here.