Talking Therapy

Psychotherapy has much in common with counseling and clinical psychology.

Essentially it is a “talking therapy” which involves seeing a trained professional, usually once a week for an hour, to discuss and explore problems you may be having in your life.

Psychotherapy focuses on both change and understanding. It can help to change unhelpful behaviors in our lives as well as helping us to understand where these patterns originated.
People come to see a psychotherapist for many reasons. These commonly include:

• Depression and/ or anxiety.
• Concerns about alcohol and drug use.
• Relationship difficulties.
• Grief or loss.
• Childhood trauma or sexual abuse.
• Difficulties managing emotions or distress.
• Self improvement or seeking self understanding.

Individual Psychotherapy and counselling

This is what most people think of when they think of therapy. It involves seeing a therapist usually weekly, for an hour at at time.

What is referred to as counseling is usually shorter-term, and focused on solving specific problems. It should involve learning specific skills or strategies to assist with problems for example; communication, managing emotions or changing habits.

Psychotherapy, on the other hand is usually longer term and most often focused on understanding and changing long standing patterns of behavior.

Sometimes it may involve having appointments twice a week. The focus of longer term psychotherapy is often past or childhood trauma or difficulties that cause present day problems.

Psychotherapy is also very effective for any mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety or post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD.)