What’s the difference between Psychologists and Counsellors?

It is fair to be confused by the wellbeing industry; there are lots of crossovers. Let’s put it generally:

Psychiatrists - Specialised doctors who diagnose, treat with medications, and intervene from a medical/clinical framework.

Psychologists - Professionals who train to understand and explain how the individual’s mind works. They may intervene from a medical/clinical framework (i.e., Clinical psychologists) and through conversation with a range of psychotherapy models and tools.

Psychotherapists/Therapists - Professionals highly trained to specialise in specific therapy models (CBT, DBT, ACT, IFS, etc.). These may draw on clinical and non-clinical frameworks. Narrative therapy, which I use, is a form of psychotherapy.

Counsellors - Professionals focused on enabling problem-solving and change for their clients. Counsellors are just as attentive towards the social/cultural environment as to the individual. They often use combinations of psychotherapy models to assist clients from a non-medical framework.

Coaches - Professionals who work with clients to define and reach their goals. Their goals may not include goals for well-being. Coaching work tends to be practical and not usually therapeutic.

Guru (modern-day) - Also known as an influencer. Unregulated self-proclaimed expert. Usually offers an online program or a weekend getaway followed by a trail of fans on Instagram. ;P

Can I involve a family member or a close friend?

Yes, supportive people are encouraged to join in if you prefer. Often the therapeutic process can be much more effective with the presence of someone who knows you well. Including supportive people does not cost extra.

What about couple’s or family counselling?

I offer couple’s and family counselling. I often get asked about how I stay neutral or even-handed. I believe that everyone actually has the best of intentions of making their relationships work. But because we only know what we learnt, sometimes what we do has unintended effects on others. Our job in counselling is to examine what’s not working and discover the other ways that work.

I prefer not to revisit my trauma.

I observe respect for your privacy and will not go where you don’t want to go with your stories. Re-traumatisation is a consequence of dwelling on unhelpful stories without another more helpful way of experiencing them. Therefore, I am attentive to other aspects of your experience that might suggest a whole different story about you.

Why is counselling so expensive?

Counselling and therapeutic sessions are designed to get straight to the heart of the matter. This makes 4 to 6 sessions efficient and effective for most clients.

Counselling skills require undivided attention to power dynamics, curiosity and conversational artistry (asking potent, simple, and well-timed questions).

Duty of care and responsibilities extend beyond sessions through documentation, research, and mandatory supervision. All registered counsellors must attend supervision to gain more experienced perspectives and deliver services to each client. Counsellors in private practice must factor in session time, missed appointments, administration, and overheads in the final fee.