How do you think counselling differs from other ways of helping?

[pitstopbunny]

I am studying counselling as part for my degree & I am interested to see how others perceive 'counselling' as a form of helping. So what do you think makes counselling different?

[Razzle09]

People deal with emotional problems in a number of ways! Some prefer the swift (4-6 weeks) intervention of the medical model - al la pills - others are interested only in dealing with the 'problem' and are happy to use CBT to change thinking and thus impact emotionally. Others are a lot more curious about the origins of the problem and choose to go the 'psychodymanic' route. It's really 'horses for courses' and I would suggest that first and foremost you find a therapist that you are comfortable with - a good 'fit'.

[andy-hughes]

I think the word 'conselling' covers a wide range of concepts.

On the one hand is the purely 'listening' form, which give an individual a chance to verbalise their thoughts and hopefully reach a conclusion. This is the cornerstone philosophy of The Samaritans.

On the other hand is a profesionally trained counsellor who has experience in getting to the root cause of an individual's issues, usually by careful questioning, with the questioning thread being dictated by the responses received.

I have experence of both, having been a Samaritan for three years, and also receiving counselling after a total breakdown and hospitlisation twenty years ago.

In my experience, the two are very different - one is based on an empathy and desire to asist the individual to rech their own conclusion with minimal guidance and input. The other is far more cathartic and emotionally painful, but it yields results if the individual can last the course.