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Home Body-centred Therapies • A guide to therapy Contact About Richard Links Useful reading Accessibility 
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A Brief Guide to Therapy
Many people are familiar with the terms 'counselling' and 'therapy' but often there can be some confusion as to what they actually are. Below I set out a very simple overview. I must stress that it is a rough guide, and does not attempt to convey the depth and subtleties of therapy. You may find that some of the terms used will be defined slightly differently elsewhere. Millions of words have been written on this subject, and all schools of therapy – and probably all therapists within each school - have their own personal understanding of what works and why. This guide should not be used as advice on what is best for you. Indeed, frequently the relationship you develop with your therapist can be just as significant as the approach used. It is a testament to how unique and wonderful each one of us is that there is no single 'magic cure'. Counselling Counselling is a way of addressing problems by talking them through with someone who is supportive but is not directly involved in the situation. You can talk and express your feelings about whatever is troubling you with someone who will not criticise, dismiss or belittle you. Sometimes simply having this support - a place to let off steam – is enough to help you through a difficult time. If you have a problem you would like to resolve, the counsellor will help you explore and understand your difficulties and find ways of managing these more effectively. This may involve guidance and advice, but the emphasis will be on helping you find the solution that feels right for you. Counselling might be defined as a way of helping you find a better way of managing immediate troubles. Psychotherapy There are many forms of psychotherapy, each with different theories and ways of working. What is common to them all is, I would say, the idea that our experiences in life make us develop certain patterns of behaviour that we are not always aware of. These patterns may be unhelpful or damaging to us or may prevent us from making the most of life. A psychotherapist aims to help you become aware of your 'unhelpful' patterns and to change them. There are two main branches: Behavioural therapy, often referred to as 'CBT', tries to change patterns very directly. It is frequently recommended for conditions such as addictions, phobias and OCD (where people get into 'obsessive' patterns of behaviour such as hand-washing). Psychodynamic psychotherapy usually involves helping you become aware of past hurts, of emotions that are buried deep inside you; expressing these emotions fully (a process called 'catharsis') can allow healing to occur and change to take place. This exploration and expression of buried emotions can be done in various ways: Somatic therapists believe that our patterns of behaviour are not just held in the mind, but also in the body. Manipulating the body (for example through deep massage) both allows us to become aware of buried emotions, to express them emotionally and physically and to establish new and healthier patterns. Psychotherapy might be defined as a way of helping you change deep-rooted patterns of behaviour. There are some useful articles and guides on the BBC Health site. Note: People sometimes confuse psychotherapy with psychiatry. Psychiatry offers medical and psychological help to those with mental illness or with such severe problems that they struggle to function as a member of society or pose a serious risk to themselves or to others. Psychiatric treatment may involve specialised counselling, behaviour therapy and medication. | |