Counseling and therapy are powerful tools. They can help us manage our emotions and stress, process our grief and traumas, and find healing. The terms are often used interchangeably (sometimes even by counselors and therapists) but can serve different needs. This article will define each of these terms and provide a summary of each, with the goal of helping anyone who is looking for mental health support but isn’t sure what they need.
What is Counseling?
The American Counseling Association defines counseling as “a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education and career goals.” Counseling is often short-term and focused on achieving a goal, such as relationship support, career guidance, or general wellness. It is more solution-based than therapy and often focuses on practical strategies. Various professionals provide counseling, including licensed counselors, school counselors, and social workers, and treatment commonly lasts a few weeks to months.
What is Therapy?
The National Institute of Mental Health defines therapy as “a variety of treatments that aim to help a person identify and change troubling emotions, thoughts, and behaviors.” In contrast to counseling, therapy is long-term and focused on resolving deep underlying emotions, patterns, and trauma. It’s not uncommon for therapy to last for months or years. While not always the case, therapy can be more emotionally taxing than counseling because it requires deep mental and emotional work from participants. If you have experienced anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), for example, therapy could be a good solution. Licensed therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and clinical social workers provide therapy.
Common Reasons People Seek Counseling
Understanding why people seek counseling vs therapy can help illustrate what might be best for a person. Some common reasons people seek counseling include:
- A challenging life event, such as grief from the loss of a loved one, loss of a job, or perhaps an incident of abuse.
- Life transitions, such as becoming a parent, starting a new job, or retirement.
- Stress management for things in life that have become a recurring source of stress, such as a manager at work.
- Relationship challenges around communication or conflicts.
Common Reasons People Seek Therapy
Some common reasons people seek therapy include:
- Mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, and addiction that impacts one’s daily life.
- Emotional difficulties that are more deep-rooted and don’t go away, such as sadness or hopelessness.
- Trauma recovery for any number of things, including abuse, car accidents, war, or a natural disaster.
- Behavioral issues such as substance use, self-harm, or eating disorders.
Tips When Choosing Counseling vs Therapy
If you’ve decided to pursue counseling or therapy, here are three tips to help you find the right provider.
- Understand your goals. Try to determine why you are seeking support. It’s okay if you can’t wholly articulate your reasons, but having a general sense of what’s going on will get you on the right path.
- Consider practical factors, such as your provider’s location, cost, and availability. Some questions to answer:
- Are they located where you can consistently and conveniently get to them without too much trouble?
- Do you prefer online sessions or in-person sessions?
- How hard is it to schedule an ad hoc appointment if that is important to you?
- Does your insurance cover it, or do they have a sliding scale fee structure if needed?
- Do you feel good about this therapist or counselor? While it might not be possible to meet a provider before a first session, you may be able to read their bio or client reviews online. You can also verify their credentials and areas of treatment expertise. Once you meet them, ask yourself if this is a person you can be honest with. It’s a good idea to give any new relationship a few sessions before changing, but it is okay to switch therapists or counselors if you are having a hard time opening up.
Counseling and Therapy at Southern Sky Recovery
Our caring, expert staff provides a host of evidence-based therapies to help people with substance use disorders and trauma. If you or a loved one have been searching for mental health support but haven’t been sure where to start, call us today. We want to hear your unique story. You deserve a life of empowerment and control. It is possible.
