Counselling and Psychotherapy at the Cheltenham Holistic Health Centre

“The process of good psychotherapy
can help people to deal with their
emotional or psychological problems
and live more satisfying
and fulfilling lives”

Psychotherapy is a formal and professional relationship where people can explore difficult, and often painful, emotions and experiences. There is lots of evidence that psychotherapy is an extremely effective process (Wampold et al 1997). It aims are to understand and reach underlying causes of distress. It provides a safe and confidential environment where exploration and interaction with the therapist can lead to a new awareness.

It can help bring about changes in negative and destructive behaviour that can lead to more positive and creative ways of being. By exploring ideas together and being curious about the way we behave and what lays behind it, the process of good psychotherapy can help people to deal with their emotional or psychological problems and live more satisfying and fulfilling lives.

Psychotherapy or Counselling?
There is a lot of discussion going on about the difference between psychotherapy and counselling right now. Broadly speaking I see psychotherapy as being more of a long-term venture that might go into problems in greater depth, it might also pay greater attention to the dynamics that develop between the therapist and client. Its aims are to facilitate fundamental changes within the whole of the person. Counselling tends to be shorter term and focuses on the resolution of a specific issue or immediate crisis. Of course there are plenty of similarities and cross over points between the two disciplines.