Difference between Counselling and Psychotherapy

Counselling is a process of interaction and exchange between client and therapist with the aim of helping the client explore the nature of their concern and sort out what can be done about it. It is usually a short to medium term process to help find a way to resolve specific problems. It may involve giving advice or information, or the working through of immediate conflicts, but essentially it provides therapeutic support through times of stress and disruption.

Psychotherapy is also a process of interaction and exchange but uses the therapeutic situation to go deeper into the background of the personality exploring the emotional-mental patterns underlying present concerns or troubles. Psychotherapists often work with clients for longer periods of time on deep psychological problems with the aim of fundamental change within the personality.