Counselling vs. Therapy: Which is Right for me?

Have you or your loved one noticed a change in yourself recently? 

Have you been thinking you need or want some support? 

Maybe you should consider speaking with a mental health professional. 

There are many different professions in the mental health field and various types of support you can seek. 

To help clear up some of the confusion surrounding the terms used in this field, we have summarized the differences between some of the terms in the industry – for example counselling vs. therapy – to help you figure out which is best for you. 

What Is… 

First, let’s differentiate two different services in the mental health field: counselling and therapy. 

Counselling 

Counselling is best if you are experiencing a situational crisis. 

A distressing or negative event that you are not used to dealing with can be solved in counselling, like a marital conflict or a work stressor. 

You typically work with a counsellor on a specific issue for a defined, limited amount of time.

Counselling is solution-focused and great for learning coping mechanisms for stressful situations. 

However, if your counsellor notices that you need longer-term support, they can connect you to a therapist to continue helping you. 

Therapy 

Therapy is more of a long-term commitment. 

It is helpful for more complex issues, like healing trauma or working through deep-rooted anxieties. 

If you are struggling with a mental health concern, want to work on goals, or change your behavioural/thought patterns, therapy is a good choice for you. 

Many different approaches to therapy can assist with different issues or mental health concerns. 

Cognitive behavioural therapy, psychodynamic therapy, interpersonal therapy, and even art therapy are among some of the many approaches to therapy. 

You can find what specifically is right for you. 

Now, let’s look at the different types of practitioners within the mental health field. 

Psychotherapist 

The term “psychotherapist” can be used for the majority of mental health practitioners.

They are trained in various forms of social work, psychology, and therapy. There are different types of psychotherapists: counsellors, psychologists, and social workers. 

Psychotherapists can help you work through learned behaviours, past traumas, unhealthy thought patterns, and more. 

They support clients through counselling and therapy. 

The training that psychotherapists undergo prepares them to teach healthy coping skills, support their client’s goals, and guide emotional change. 

Psychologist 

Psychologists often have higher education and training in psychology, like a Psy.D. or a Ph.D. degree. 

Similar to how there are different types of psychotherapists, there are different types of psychologists. They can have different areas of specialty where they’ve focused their education. 

Psychologists can diagnose and treat mental illnesses using psychological assessments and various therapeutic approaches. 

Some psychologists may even perform research alongside their talk therapy practice. 

In terms of the service that psychologists deliver, it is not vastly different from that of a psychotherapist — the difference in title is more specific to the training received by the practitioner. 

Psychiatrist 

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who diagnoses and treats mental illnesses. 

While a psychiatrist can provide therapy similarly to a psychologist and psychotherapist, psychiatrists can prescribe medications to help treat any symptoms experienced by their patients. 

Psychiatrists can also have different areas of specialty, just like psychologists. If you are struggling with your mental health, your family doctor may refer you to a psychiatrist.

How Do I Know If I Need Support? 

1. Change in Your Emotions 

Have you been experiencing a significant change in your mood and emotions? 

Maybe you have been feeling more sad, anxious, angry, or isolated than usual. If that is the case, you might need some support. 

Small changes in your mood may not mean anything, but if you have been feeling much different than you normally do for over two weeks, it may indicate a bigger change. 

Sometimes, you do not notice a change in yourself, but others may. 

If your loved ones have mentioned that you seem more gloomy or hyperactive than usual, reaching out for support may be helpful for you. 

It is important to notice these changes in yourself or to acknowledge the changes others see in you. 

Emotional changes may signify developing mental health concerns, and you deserve support if you feel like you need/want it. 

2. Change in Your Psychosomatic Processes 

Psychosomatic processes involve parts of our physical health, like sleep, appetite, and energy levels.

These processes have a strong influence on our physical and mental health. When big changes happen to these processes, they can be indicative of mental health issues. 

Getting more or less sleep, having a larger/smaller appetite, or feeling more/less energetic could suggest something changing with your mental health. 

These changes can also contribute to worsening mental health. If you are already struggling, changes in these processes can amplify your struggles or make it harder to cope. 

So, if you have noticed a significant change in some of your typical physical patterns, it may be a good idea to reach out for extra support. 

Especially if you get to a point where these changes are impacting your daily functioning and preventing you from completing day-to-day tasks, it is time to seek therapy. 

3. Change in Your Behaviour 

Have there been any significant changes in your typical behaviours and abilities? Changes to be aware of could include a decline in your motivation or concentration. 

Maybe you find yourself feeling more and more unmotivated and cynical about the work you are doing.

Perhaps you have noticed yourself being unable to pay attention or focus or daydreaming excessively in situations where you should be focused. 

These changes in your behaviour could suggest that you need a bit more support in your life, and a therapist may be a good option for you. 

Have you felt yourself acting out of character negatively? Like isolating yourself from others or doing/saying things you would not have done/said in the past. 

Acting out of character is a good indicator of when you should seek therapy. 

Maybe you have felt yourself acting in ways that are harmful to others, like lying or manipulation. 

Or maybe you have had thoughts that are harmful towards yourself, like thoughts of self-harm or suicide. 

If this is the case, and you’ve had harmful thoughts about others and yourself, you should seek emergency support to keep yourself and others safe. 

4. If You Want Extra Support 

If you feel like you could benefit from mental health support while you endure a challenge in your life, counselling is for you. 

If you want someone to talk to about something that has been on your mind, counselling may be the right option for you. 

You do not have to have noticed a change in yourself to reach out for support. 

If you know that you want therapy, then seek therapy! The right therapist will support you where you need support, and you do not have to wait until a crisis moment to get the support you deserve. 

What’s Right For Me? 

If you are struggling to figure out what is right for you, consider what you are looking for. Is the issue you are facing new? Is it situational? Do you recurrently have these issues? 

Knowing whether this is a novel issue or a pattern can influence which type of support you should seek.

What goals do you have? What growth do you want for yourself? 

What do you want to get out of therapy? 

What type of support are you looking to receive? This can help you decide what type of mental health professional to reach out to. 

While this shouldn’t be the main determinant for you, you should consider the coverage that you have. 

It is good to think about what you have covered under your insurance to find support that would make the most financial sense for you. 

Look for something, and someone, who works best with you and your intentions in therapy. 

There are many different supports and services available to you if you are looking for mental health support. 

Knowing what type of support is right for you is the first step to finding the right therapist. 

It is critical to find the right therapist for you, so test out consultations to learn more about working with specific mental health practitioners. 

You deserve to find the support you need, and understanding the differences between all of the different terms used in the mental health field can help you narrow your search, but this is just one step to finding a therapist who’s right for you. Click the link below to discover the other essential steps.