Counselling Vs Counseling? The Types Of Psychology Counseling Explained

Updated October 7, 2022 by BetterHelp Editorial Team

No matter who we are or where we come from, life gives us challenges. We are the most equipped to face these challenges when we have the right tools and support. Sometimes, support comes in the form of psychology counseling. You may have heard many terms related to psychology or counseling thrown around and want to know if there is a difference in definition. Continue reading to learn more and receive helpful tips and resources to embark on your own online counseling journey.

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Therapy, Counseling, And Counselling: The Psychology Basics

Why Do People Need Counseling? How Does It Help You?

1. We Aren't Getting the Help We Need

According to the American Psychological Association, up to 1 in 4, primary care patients live with depression; however, primary care doctors identify less than 31 percent of these patients. That means that there is a real need for mental health care, yet the current tools we have in the medical field aren't fulfilling that need. The statistics speak for themselves, and something needs to change for people to maintain emotional wellness. Part of that shift has to do with showing people the value of counseling. For people to see the value of counseling, they need to take the leap and meet with a therapist. Once they do that, they'll notice a dramatic shift in their lives and recognize that their emotional well-being improves.

2. When Someone is in Crisis, a Therapist Can Help

When someone is expressing a crisis, such as trauma or grief, they can see a therapist for help. If the person in question expresses their troubling thoughts to a friend or loved one, the person on the other end can confidently refer them to a therapist. Counseling is a safe place to express any emotions a person is having difficulty expressing. A counselor vs therapist is dedicated to helping people get to a place of emotional wellness and stability. Both can also provide professional relationship help in the form of sessions with your partner.

3. Money Troubles

The majority of Americans are in a significant amount of debt. Their financial difficulties could be due to lack of consistent income, poverty, compulsive spending, gambling addiction, substance use, or other mental health issues. Managing money or matters surrounding money is extremely real and impacts our lives daily. Money can cause people anxiety, panic attacks, depression, substance abuse, and other mental health disorders.

One of the most significant roadblocks people face when trying to find a therapist and enter counseling is the cost. Many people don't have health insurance or their limited coverage for mental health services (such as counseling) prevents them from getting counseling or other care. There are low-cost clinics where people can get counseling services. However, many times the waitlists for these places are long, and it's difficult to get a therapist promptly. Many people understand the value of counseling, but still think they are not able to afford it. Online therapy or counseling could be a more affordable option.

We should clarify that although sometimes "counseling" is spelled differently, the different variations are still the same thing - a form of therapy. Spelling it with one "L" is the American spelling, while the same word with two "L"s is the British spelling.

4. Therapy Treats Mental Illness

If you live with depression, anxiety, or something more severe such as bipolar disorder, you likely experience times of distress in addition to common life challenges. Many people who have a mental illness recognize the value of therapy and see a therapist, whether that person is online or in their area. However, as stated above, there are plenty of individuals who do not receive the therapy that they desperately need for mental health issues. In fact, there are barriers to therapy and mental health services in the United States that are somewhat out of the client's control. Despite the barriers, which we will discuss in a moment, therapy is an excellent way to treat chronic mental illness.

5. Treatment is in Online Therapy

We live in a technology-centric generation and mental health services have evolved quite a bit over time. The final reason to seek therapy is that there are so many ways to do so electronically! Online therapy or counseling is a viable option for treatment. It's vastly more affordable than providers that either don't take insurance or only accept out-of-network coverage. There are even options to get free counseling or therapy for a period before you commit to a long-term relationship with your provider. It's possible to take steps forward with your provider within a few weeks of starting.

BetterHelp has an extensive network of professional online therapists who are ready to support you in your journey to wellness. All providers on the platform are licensed, trained, experienced, and accredited psychologists (PhD / PsyD), licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFT), licensed clinical social workers (LCSW / LMSW), or licensed professional therapists (LPC). All of them have a Masters Degree or a Doctorate Degree in their field.

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"I have come a long way. With the help of Alexis, I have accomplished things I thought I'd never do. I am glad I did this, it has benefited me so much. With the guidance and encouragement of Alexis, I am more confident in myself and I see a clear path to success and happiness. I have learned to control myself and not doubt myself. It is hard to let go but I know I will be fine and if I need she will still be here for me. Thank you Alexis you have truly helped me change my life. I am so grateful. I wish you the best!"

"In the short span of 9 months, Shonnie has become like one of my best friends. At first, I was skeptical of doing therapy since I'm very "psychologically healthy". A few challenges in my personal life lead me to try therapy for a month. Now I consider it an important part of my growth as a businessman and leader within my community. Thank you Shonnie for being so helpful during the recent difficulties; I am very lucky to have found you!"

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Counseling: Final Thoughts

This list of counseling and counselling is in no way complete, and there are hundreds of good reasons to try therapy. The main reason is that nobody needs to bear any burden alone. You can find hope and overcome any difficulty - take the first step with professional counselors today.

FAQs About Counseling

What is the difference between counseling and therapy?

While both can help you accomplish mental health goals you may have in mind, counseling tends to have a shorter timeframe. Therapy generally helps a person take a closer look at their thinking patterns and how that ultimately plays a role in how they interact with the world. Counseling can take on other shapes as well beyond the traditional roles of therapy, like school counseling or professional help with career goals. Counseling can also help smooth out challenges between family and create more cohesion within a family unit.

What is the goal of counseling?

There is no specific goal for counseling. But it often gives clients set goals for themselves, allows them to find solutions to challenges they may be facing, helps improve communication, boosts self-esteem, and empowers diverse individuals to understand their relationships and life experiences better.

Other FAQs:

What do you mean of counseling?

Counseling can have many different meanings, and there are many types of counseling. In education settings, such as colleges, you may find a career counselor. Someone may go to a career counselor to ensure that their education is paving the right path for the career they want, to explore their career options based on their skills and strengths, or to discuss something else that relates to career topics. Mental health counseling, on the other hand, may relate to any number of concerns that impact mental health, whether that's trauma related to natural disasters, gun violence, or another event, relationships, substance abuse, a substance use disorder*, or another mental health condition. People may attend divorce counseling to move through a divorce as harmoniously as possible, or a couple may seek couple's counseling to prepare for marriage, to find solutions for challenges within the relationship, or for another reason. If you have something specific that you want to work on during counseling sessions, you may look for a professional who works with that specific concern. For example, you may search for a counselor or therapist who works with anxiety disorders if the primary topic you want to cover in sessions is an anxiety disorder.

*If you or someone you know lives with or might be living with a substance use disorder, help is available. Please contact SAMHSA's national helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

What is the purpose of counseling?

There are many different purposes or reasons why a person might go to counseling or see a counselor. For example, counselors may help clients with concerns including but not limited to:

Stress management
Self esteem
Relationship concerns
Communication
Mental health conditions
Personal growth/personal development
Challenges within a family unit
Sleep or sleep disorders

That said, this is by no means an extensive list of what licensed professional counselors can do. The American Counseling Association lists a number of different possible counseling specialties on its website. The counseling specialties listed on the American Counseling Association website include but aren't limited to child and adolescent counseling, substance abuse or addictions counseling, LGBTQIA+ counseling, and military counseling. You can learn more about the different types of counseling on the American Counseling Association website.

To provide specialized care to clients, licensed professional counselors may work primarily with people of a specific population or who face a specific concern they want to work on in some cases and may have additional training related to the population or concern they work with. Therapy is personal, and it's important to work with a counselor who you feel safe with. This is one reason as to why some clients may seek a counselor who works with a specific population.

Do you need a degree to be a counselor?

Licensed professional counselors will have a master's degree or higher in the United States. Other requirements, too, must be met. For example, one must obtain licensure and endure a specific number of hours of supervised practice. There are ethical standards provided by the American Counseling Association (ACA) that counselors will generally abide by in their work with their clients. The requirements to become a licensed professional counselor who offers counseling to clients may vary based not just on your country, but also, on your state if you live in the United States. Those who are interested in becoming counselors may find it beneficial to review the requirements in the location where they want to work with clients.

Who needs counseling?

Anyone can benefit from counseling, and counseling can be used for a broad range of concerns that affect a person's life. Someone may attend counseling due to challenges in their career, for help moving through a divorce or something else that affects their personal life, like grief, due to a desire to learn new coping skills, for the management of a mental health condition, to receive emotional support and skills to cope with a physical health condition, or for another reason. You can attend counseling with a romantic partner, on your own, or in groups. Group counseling, where individuals meet in groups, often to work on a specific concern or goal, is helpful for many people, can occur in different settings, and may be engaged with on its own or alongside individual therapy. People may also attend family counseling with their families if they want to work on something with their family unit involved. For example, families may attend family counseling to support one specific family through a mental health condition or another life challenge. Alternatively, a family may attend family counseling together to work on challenges such as family conflict and trouble with communication within the family unit.

Counseling Is Personal

Going to counseling is a personal experience, and not everyone will go into counseling seeking the same things. Keeping this in mind can ensure that you will get the most out of online therapy or psychology, regardless of what your specific counseling goals are. If you’re still wondering if therapy or psychology is right for you, and how much counseling costs, please contact us at contact@betterhelp.com. BetterHelp specializes in online therapy to help address all types of mental health psychology concerns. If you’re interested in individual therapy, reach out today to get started.

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