Psychotherapy 101 What Is the Difference Between Counseling and Psychotherapy?
“Psychotherapy” and “counseling” are terms that are often used interchangeably. Although they are very similar, there are some subtle differences as well. Technically speaking, “counselor” means “advisor”. It involves two people working together to solve a problem. It is a term that is used in conjunction with many types of advice giving. For example, financial planning and spiritual guidance are both types of counseling. Just about anyone at all may claim to be a counselor if they are in the role of giving advice. The term counseling may also properly be used to refer to what occurs in a relationship with a psychotherapist. In the context of mental health, “counseling” is generally used to denote a relatively brief treatment that is focused most upon behavior. It often targets a particular symptom or problematic situation and offers suggestions and advice for dealing with it. “Psychotherapy” on the other hand is generally a longer term treatment which focuses more on gaining insight i
