Choosing a Counselor or Psychotherapist: Is There a Difference?
By: Mentor Research Institute
Revised: March 27, 2021
If you need counseling or psychotherapy, there is no task more important than locating and choosing a counselor or therapist who can best meet your needs. Of course this can be difficult when or if you are uncertain about what you need.
The following information and guidelines should help.
Outcomes are better when people actively seek out and select their own psychotherapist or counselor.
Counseling and psychotherapy are fundamentally different. There is significant overlap in the way they are practiced and many professionals do both.
Counselors trained to provide psychotherapy can provide excellent psychotherapy.
Problems that involve or may involve serious behavioral and psychological issues require that the patient have a choice among professionals who have advanced clinical and psychotherapy training including experience recognizing potential medical problems.
Counseling primarily involves defining problems, decision making, problem solving and may include providing information, advice or guidance.
Psychotherapy primarily involves the application of psychological and behavioral therapies intended to improve physical and psychological well-being.
A positive relationship is a critical factor in effective counseling or psychotherapy and is absolutely critical when the goal is to improve the lives of children and teens.
It is not easy to find an experienced and highly trained therapist. Without assistance and information, it can be extremely difficult to find a psychotherapist with the clinical skills you need, who cares, respects your privacy, is willing to challenge third-party payer restrictions of necessary care, and who will hold your legal and ethical rights above their own financial benefit.
Ability to work with adults does not mean that a professional is able to work effectively with teenagers and children.
Ability to work with individuals does not mean that a professional is also effective in work with couples, families or groups. When you are seeking counseling or therapy services ask about the professional’s training and experience with the problems you want to address in the way you imagine they can best be resolved.
Outcomes are better when clients or patients work with professionals who are of the same racial/ethnic background.
Unlicensed and unsupervised counselors or therapists are frequently incompetent and may do more harm than good - or no good at all.