What Are The Different Types of Counselling?
There is a wide range of counselling types, including CBT, Person-Centred, and Psychodynamic Therapy. Each person has different circumstances, and not all types of counselling will be right for each person.
I am a BACP registered counsellor, and in this article I’ll be walking you through the key differences in counselling methods to help you in finding the best counselling method for you. If you have any further questions on this topic, please feel free to contact me for more information.
Most Popular Methods of Counselling​
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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
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Person-Centred Counselling
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Integrative Person-Centred Counselling
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Psychodynamic Therapy
What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)?
This is the type of counselling that is usually offered by your GP. The NHS prefers CBT as the outcomes of this practical type of therapy are ‘measurable’.
The nature of this directive type of therapy means that you will more likely get practical homework to do between sessions to put into practice what you have discussed and learned in each session.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is useful for developing tools and techniques to use as coping mechanisms and is commonly used for the treatment of:
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Addiction
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Phobias
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Giving up smoking
What is Psychodynamic Therapy?
Qualified Counsellor based in Stourbridge.
Qualifications
Level 2 Counselling Skills
Level 3 Diploma Counselling Skills
Level 4 Diploma Therapeutic Counselling
OU Online Counselling
CPCAB Level 2 Substance Misuse
Registered member of BACP
With a focus on the events and trauma from childhood, Psychodynamic Therapy can help unpack things that we have experienced or witnessed in our formative years. This might include the childhood loss of one or both of our parents, childhood abuse, domestic abuse in the family home, substance abuse by a family member, being bullied at school or being made to not feel good enough, amongst many other things.
By working through the events and gaining a better understanding of how they may have affected us we can then begin to make sense of them as an adult and understand how they might have gone on to affect our emotional responses, our thoughts and our reactions to various situations.
What is Person-Centred Counselling?
This type of counselling is driven by the client. Sessions will be based upon what the client needs and wants in that moment and is based on Carl Rogers theory that the client is the expert and only they know what it is they need to solve their own problems. The therapist's work is to help the client find their own answers to the problems they face.
What is Integrative Person-Centred Counselling?
An integrative person-centred therapist will draw upon other types of counselling such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or Psychodynamic Therapy to help gain a better understanding of the bigger picture.
This allows the client to receive a more holistic approach and form of therapy as the counsellor will be using different types of counselling to support their client. The integrative element of this type of counselling means that the therapist will help the client identify and explore any underlying issues to their problems.
I am currently offering a free initial counselling consultation, where we can confidentially discuss the issues you’re dealing with, and discuss the counselling process.
What is the right type of counselling for me?
As a BACP registered Integrative Person-Centred counsellor, I can help to walk you through the different methods used within counselling and therapy if you would like more information.
Even if you feel like you’re not quite ready to speak to a therapist just yet, I hope that this article provides some valuable information on some of the different methods used within counselling, and which might be best for you.
Head over to Counselling FAQs for more commonly asked questions, or read my article on what to expect at your first counselling session here.
Still unsure if counselling is right for you?
I've compiled a range of mental health resources to help if you're suffering with mental health issues. This includes the contact details for charities that can help, alongside articles I've written which may be able to help such as tips for improving your mental health.