What is the difference between counselling and psychotherapy? It's a question that feels as old as conversation!
This is a question that has been given so much talk, not even professionals know how to answer this question or know what to call themselves (myself included to be honest). Nobody agrees and these terms are used interchangeably.
The confusion possibly stems from psychotherapy/counselling being an unprotected profession in the UK, which means that anybody can call themselves a therapist or counsellor without legal consequences. This is different to a psychologist. It's against the law to call yourself a psychologist if you are not one, and you know if you are or not because you'd have worn a big fancy gown and shaken the hand of someone important for a piece of paper after many years of grueling hard work. But counselling/therapy is different because anybody can call themselves this and practise. Not only this, but the BACP, the British association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, our governing body for those of us who have trained and studied counselling and psychotherapy uses these words interchangeably. So therefore, the confusion begins.
But when push comes to shove, there are subtle differences between counselling and psychotherapy.
Counselling vs Psychotherapy
One difference is - arguably - the level of technical skill and education that each requires and, two, what will happen in the session.
Now with counselling, the conversation tends to focus on day to day life, the next steps and is solution-focused. It might not be as in depth as psychotherapy. With psychotherapy, it generally takes some deeper, more long-term work into somebody's emotional and unconscious psyche. Hence the phrase psychotherapy.
Also, there's different training involved. Because of the depth that happens in psychotherapy, a lot more training is required to be able to say safely and ethically and effectively go into deep places with people. So a psychotherapist tends to require more training hours, hundreds of training hours and a master's degree than counselling.
This means counsellors in the UK may have done less training. For example a helpline here in the UK, like the like ChildLine or Samaritans have brilliant and caring volunteers may have other day jobs but have done six to eight weeks of volunteer training in order to support people on helplines. These volunteers - I'd know because I was a volunteer - call themselves counsellors.
I feel strongly that psychotherapy does not take place over a helpline.
I can appreciate I may have a chip on my shoulders becuase I have worn the big fancy gown and shaken the hand of someone important for a piece of paper after many years of grueling hard work of training and studying psychotherapy. It's true I tend to call myself a therapist because I want to differentiate myself between the type of support that happens on a helpline.
But with all this said - there are similarities when considering Counselling vs Psychotherapy
They both hold a secure, confidential space for other people. They're still focusing on this person and building rapport and helping them to know themselves better and get over those kinds of challenges that happen in life.
What do you think? Is there a difference between counselling and psychotherapy to you?
Would you rather see a psychotherapist or a counsellor? Do these words conjure up different meanings for you?
Written by Lily Llewellyn
March 14th 2025
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