What is Psychotherapy?

A psychotherapist works with you to address personal hardships or difficulties. Whether you are going through a difficult life transition such as separation, divorce, the death of a loved one or a life-threatening illness, a psychotherapist can help. Psychotherapy can also be useful if one is suffering anxiety/panic attacks, depression, self-esteem issues, relationship problems, fears/phobias, addictions, uncomfortable or intense emotions, isolation, apathy and more. Psychotherapy assists by helping you achieve greater self-awareness (consciousness) and guides you to actualize your true potential.

 “Psychotherapy is the use of psychological techniques to change behaviours, feelings, thoughts or habits.” (www.planetpsych.com) Psychotherapy is about creating awareness and understanding of the true source of apparent irrational, limiting, or dysfunctional patterns. Often the root cause of these patterns is masked, distracted from or indirectly acted out. Dr. Bennet Pologe, PhD explains how individuals can get stuck in these patterns, “There is some other motivation, agenda, feeling that draws them into these repeated patterns. If they could see what it was, they might be able to resist the impulse or choose another means of satisfying it.” It is this deeper understanding which enables or facilitates change.

 Psychotherapists can work with individuals, couples, families or groups. There are many theoretical approaches of psychotherapy including psychoanalytical, transpersonal, behavioural and cognitive to name a few.

 For more information on Psychotherapy please check out:

Ontario Society of Psychotherapists – www.psychotherapyontario.com

www.aboutpsychotherapy.com – Dr. Bennet Pologe, PhD

What’s the difference between psychotherapy and counselling?

There is no clearly defined answer to this question, however the differences are generally reflected in the range of problems that are treated and the methods which are used in the treatment.

Counselling is usually considered to be of a short term duration and more proactive in dealing with the effects of a problem. Solution-focused methods of therapy are more common in counselling. Let’s say you’re in an abusive relationship. A counselor might help you get out from the relationship and help you get set up in a better living situation. They might offer suggestions for support groups, or recommend agenices who deal with special housing needs or alternative funding sources for education.

A counsellor also can make recommendations based on the problem you are addressing. A career cousellor might recommend doing some information interviews. or an addictions counsellor might help you identify specific tasks associated with a 12 step program.

Psychoherapy could include the above elements but the pace of the therapeutic process is usually slower. In the example above, a therapist would also help you to identify the pattern in your relationships and promote changes within you so you are at less risk for finding yourself in the same situation in the future. The root of the problem might stem from a poor sense of self worth but the effect of the problem is a bad relationship.

There is often an overlap between the two professions. Some counsellors do deep therapeutic work, and psychotherapists do short term work. Neither profession requires a specific level of education.