Movies and TV often portrait interesting and sometimes amusing ideas about therapy and what is involved. Lying on a couch and just talking are some of the examples that influence what people think therapy might involve.
However, talking to someone about what is going on in your life is different to therapy. Supportive counselling might involve:
- A shorter-term focus on something going on in your life that is troubling you
- A focus on the here and now
- Creating practical and behavioural strategies to address the current problem OR
- Talking through the problem to release frustration and other emotions without a specific focus on change
- Longer term work but more of a “check in” after the initial problem is resolved
Therapy on the other hand is very different to this. Therapy can be:
- Medium to longer term but will have an end point
- Regularly and frequent at the beginning with regards to appointments
- A focus on how past events and relationships are driving your current symptoms, behaviours and presenting issues
- A very active process on your behalf, requiring you to reflect, complete activities and changes outside of sessions and work towards goals
- Can be challenging and confronting at times
- Working towards achieving longer lasting change as it addresses underlying issues
Understanding the difference between supportive counselling and therapy is really important. Often people will say to me, “I have tried therapy, but it did not work”. But when we explore further, they have not been doing active therapy. They have had supportive counselling.
Both therapy and supportive counselling can be very helpful depending on your goals and stage in life. It is just important to know the difference and to know which one you are doing so that you get the most out of it and that you have a good fit with your therapist.
