Counselling vs Therapy vs Psychotherapy: What’s the Difference?
Counselling, therapy and psychotherapy overlap, but they are not identical. What each involves, who provides it in the UK and how to choose what suits you.
Your guide to talking therapies
Getting support should feel less daunting.
Plain-English guides to counselling and therapy in the UK: what they are, how to find the right person and what to expect when you start.
Latest guides
How to Find a Counsellor in the UK: NHS and Private Routes
How to find a counsellor in the UK: NHS Talking Therapies and self-referral, private counselling costs, low-cost options and checking registration.
What Happens in Your First Counselling Session
Nervous about your first counselling session? What usually happens, the questions you may be asked, confidentiality and how to make it work for you.
How Much Does Counselling Cost in the UK?
What counselling costs in the UK: typical private fees, free NHS talking therapies, low-cost and sliding-scale options, workplace schemes and questions to ask.
CBT Explained: What to Expect From Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Cognitive behavioural therapy explained: how CBT works, what sessions involve, homework and techniques, what it helps with, how long it takes and its limits.
Online Counselling vs Face-to-Face: Which Is Right for You?
Online and face-to-face counselling compared: effectiveness, privacy, convenience and cost, plus how to get the most from video, phone or text sessions.
Signs You Might Benefit From Counselling
Ten signs counselling could help: persistent low mood or worry, struggling to cope, relationship problems, grief, burnout, and when to seek urgent support.
Counselling for Anxiety: What Helps
How counselling helps with anxiety: CBT and other approaches, what sessions involve, self-help alongside therapy, NHS and private options and when to seek help.
Grief Counselling: How It Works and When It Helps
What grief counselling is, how grief affects people, when counselling can help, what sessions involve and where to find bereavement support in the UK.
Couples Counselling: When and How It Helps
What couples counselling involves, signs it could help, what happens in sessions, common approaches, how to find a counsellor in the UK and what it costs.
How to Tell If a Counsellor Is Right for You
How to know if your counsellor is a good fit: signs therapy is working, red flags, how to raise concerns, and how to change counsellors without feeling guilty.
Person-Centred Therapy Explained
What person-centred therapy is, Carl Rogers’ core conditions, what sessions feel like, who it helps, how it differs from CBT and how to find a counsellor.
Workplace Counselling and Employee Assistance Programmes
How workplace counselling and Employee Assistance Programmes work: what’s offered, confidentiality, how to access sessions and what to do when they end.
Burnout: Signs, Causes and Recovery
How to recognise burnout, how it differs from stress and depression, common causes at work and at home, steps to recover and when to seek professional support.
How to Support Someone Who Won’t Get Help
How to support someone who’s struggling but won’t seek help: starting the conversation, listening, gentle encouragement, looking after yourself and emergencies.
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