Psychotherapy and counselling

Psychotherapy and counselling share many similarities, and both involve talking therapy within a therapeutic relationship. The training, theoretical depth and clinical development involved in becoming a psychotherapist are, however, different from those involved in many counselling qualifications.

Psychotherapy training typically involves postgraduate-level study, extensive supervised clinical practice, ongoing professional supervision and substantial personal therapy. UKCP psychotherapy training, for example, requires a minimum of 160 hours of personal therapy completed over at least four years of training.

Personal therapy is an important part of psychotherapy training, providing space for self-reflection and a deeper understanding of emotional and relational processes. Developing the capacity to reflect on one’s own experiences can also be an important part of preparing to work therapeutically with others.

Psychotherapy training also involves sustained engagement with psychological theory, including unconscious processes, relational dynamics and longer-term emotional development. This can support psychotherapists in working thoughtfully with a wide range of experiences, including difficulties that may be complex or longstanding.

Counselling and psychotherapy can both offer meaningful therapeutic support. The focus, depth and duration of the work depend not only on whether someone is a counsellor or psychotherapist, but also on their individual training, experience and therapeutic approach.