Therapists act as a neutral party who can listen and try to understand without judgement.
Therapists help you learn about yourself by pointing out patterns and giving honest feedback.
Therapists teach specific techniques and strategies to deal with problems.
Therapists can refer you to additional resources in the community that might be helpful.
Therapists provide a safe place to learn and practice social skills.
There are many approaches to counselling, all of which have their own strengths and weaknesses. Some situations call for a specific type of treatment, but sometimes it's just about preference. Here are the approaches I work within my main integrative approach:
Integrative counselling looks at the whole person, taking into account your mental, physical and emotional needs. Your therapist will use techniques and tools from different modalities to tailor an individual approach for you. An integrative counsellor aims to build a trusting and non-judgemental relationship that helps you develop self-awareness. Where you understand the causes of your concerns or triggers for your behaviour, you can confidently set goals and develop new behaviours to improve your satisfaction with life.
Compassionate Inquiry is a psychotherapeutic approach created by Dr. Gabor Matè. The approach gently uncovers and releases the layers of childhood trauma, constriction and suppressed emotion embedded in the body, that are at the root of mental and physical illness and addiction.
Person centred therapy is based on the view that everyone has the capacity and desire for personal growth and change, given the right conditions. Rather than being seen as the expert and directing the therapy, the counsellor offers unconditional positive regard, empathy and congruence to help you come to terms with any negative feelings and to change and develop in your own way.
Cognitive therapy is based on the theory that your previous experiences can damage your perception of yourself, which can affect your attitudes, emotions and your ability to deal with certain situations. It can help you to identify, question and change poor mental images of yourself, so guiding you away from negative responses and behaviours. It can help pessimistic or depressed people to view things from a more optimistic perspective.
Psychodynamic approach is derived from psychoanalysis. It focuses on the importance of the unconscious and past experience in shaping our current behaviour. A therapist will aim to build an accepting and trusting relationship, encouraging you to talk about your childhood relationships with your parents and other significant people.
The answer to this question varies by region and country but the main professionals that provide mental health support are:
Counsellors, providing short term talking therapy, practical skills and strategies, goal orientated solutions.
Psychotherapists, providing longer term talking therapy, in depth, underlying issues.
Counselling Psychologists, are able to diagnose and treat mental health conditions including more serious mental health disorders.
Psychiatrists, are medical doctors who can prescribe medication for the treatment of mental illness.
Therapists should not tell you what to do or try to direct your life. Think of the proverb: "Give a person a fish, and you feed them for a day. Teach them to fish and you feed them for life." Counsellors will help you learn to solve your own problems, rather than solving them for you.
Some mental illnesses cannot be managed by counselling/psychotherapy alone. If medication is recommended, it's probably important.
Benefitting from counselling does require work on your part. Speaking to a therapist for an hour a week, and then pushing it out of your mind, probably won't do you any good. Complete homework, practice your skills, and legitimately try the recommendations you are given.
Therapists cannot be your friend after starting a therapeutic relationship. Therapists generally like their clients, and would love to get to know them better, but ethical rules prevent the formation of relationships outside of treatment. It isn't you, it's just that the therapist will lose their job!
Therapists cannot read your mind. If you hide information or are dishonest, you're wasting your own time and money.
References:
https://www.bacp.co.uk/about-therapy/types-of-therapy
https://www.therapistaid.com/worksheets/what-is-psychotherapy
Last updated on 21st March 2025