Psychotherapy
What is psychotherapy - and how is it different from counselling?
Psychotherapy and counselling overlap significantly - both offer a confidential space to explore your inner life with a trained professional. The key difference is depth and duration. Psychotherapy tends to work more deeply into the underlying patterns, early experiences, and relational dynamics that shape how you think, feel, and behave.
What makes psychotherapy different?
While counselling often focuses on a specific issue or current difficulty, psychotherapy is more likely to explore the roots of that difficulty - how past experiences, relationships, and early patterns continue to influence your life today.
Psychotherapy tends to be longer-term, though short-term psychotherapy is also effective for specific issues. The therapeutic relationship itself is often used as a tool for understanding and change - the way you relate to your therapist can illuminate how you relate to others.
That said, the distinction between counselling and psychotherapy is not always clear-cut. Many practitioners are trained in both and will draw on whichever approach best fits your needs.
Not sure whether you need counselling or psychotherapy? Read our counselling page which includes a comparison table, or call us on 01629 583 418 and we will help you decide.
What can psychotherapy help with?
Psychotherapy is well suited to difficulties that feel deep-rooted, long-standing, or difficult to shift with other approaches. It can be particularly valuable if you find yourself repeating the same patterns in relationships, struggling with your sense of self, or feeling that past experiences continue to affect your present life.
Psychodynamic therapy
Rooted in psychoanalytic theory, this approach explores how unconscious processes, early relationships, and past experiences shape current difficulties. Often longer-term.
Integrative psychotherapy
Draws on multiple therapeutic models - including psychodynamic, humanistic, and cognitive approaches - tailored to the individual. Flexible and widely used.
Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT)
A structured, time-limited approach that helps identify and change unhelpful patterns. Combines cognitive and psychoanalytic understanding in a collaborative way.
Humanistic therapy
Focuses on your capacity for growth, self-awareness, and meaning. Approaches include person-centred therapy, Gestalt, and existential therapy.
Schema therapy
Identifies deep-rooted patterns (schemas) formed in childhood that drive unhelpful thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Particularly effective for long-standing difficulties.
EMDR
Some psychotherapists are also trained in EMDR - a structured approach for processing trauma and distressing memories. Learn more about EMDR.
vs Counselling
Psychotherapy tends to go deeper and work longer-term. Counselling is often the right choice for a specific, current difficulty. Both are valuable - the right fit depends on you and what you are bringing. See our counsellors.
vs Clinical Psychology
Clinical Psychologists hold a doctorate and are trained to assess and diagnose as well as treat. For complex, severe, or diagnostically uncertain presentations, a Clinical Psychologist may be the better starting point. See our Clinical Psychologists.
Not sure which to choose?
Many people are unsure whether they need counselling, psychotherapy, or a clinical psychologist. Call us on 01629 583 418 and we will help you think it through and find the right person at our centre.