Are Therapy and Counseling the Same Thing?

Oftentimes, we see the terms ‘therapist’ and ‘counselor’ used interchangeably. From informal blogs to public bodies, there’s an ever-growing debate about how these terms are defined, and if they can actually be formally differentiated. Even mental health practitioners may use both of these terms to describe their role – this can sometimes boil down to personal preference on how they prefer to describe their practice. 

Regardless of the semantics, therapists and counselors are both there to achieve the same goal – helping people to work through their mental problems, with the ultimate goal of mental health recovery. That being said, there are features of counseling and therapy that are considered different from one another:

• Counseling is often a shorter-term process, with an emphasis on achieving goals. It addresses specific life challenges.
• Therapists and counselors have different training.

Both counseling and therapy can be accessed in a variety of ways:

• Face-to-face support
• Individual or group session support
• Telephone support
• Online support

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What Is a Therapist?

The term ‘therapist’ is used to describe a clinician that treats mental health concerns. Three main forms of therapy include person-centered therapy, psychodynamic therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy.

To become a therapist, they often have a master’s or Doctorate degree in one of the following:

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
• Licensed clinical psychologist (Psy. D.)

Therapy can be a longer-term solution, with more holistic and exploratory solutions involved in the treatment of mental illness. Therapy tends to treat more complex issues and targets a broader range of problems. With successful treatment, an individual can find themselves with more life fulfillment, satisfying relationships and a developed understanding of their behavioral patterns.

Common examples of what therapy can be used to treat include:

• Anxiety disorders
• Depressive disorders
• Bipolar disorder
• Eating disorders
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

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What Are Counselors?

Counseling is often shorter term and addresses specific life challenges. They usually specialize in a specific field, some of which include:

• Abuse 

This often involves support with leaving an abusive relationship, processing abuse and the trauma involved with being a survivor of abuse.

• Addiction 

Common types of addiction counseling involve alcohol and drug consumption. 

• Grief

Grief counselors offer encouragement and support through the grieving process. They may provide you with coping strategies.

Some of the common degrees within this field include:

• Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)
• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

Within counseling, a person may discover and develop coping techniques. With the support of your counselor, you will develop problem-solving skills that will help you cope once your sessions end. 

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Therapy versus Counseling – Which is Best?

It can be difficult to know where to start, especially if this is the first time you’ve received mental health support. We recommend reflecting on the current challenges you face and what your expectations are of the treatment you receive. Certain conditions are better treated with counseling, others are better treated with therapy. 

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Take Our Quiz - Match With Your Perfect Therapist

Westchester Therapy Match wants to make sure that you’re matched with the right therapist for your needs. If you’re wondering “what is the difference between therapy and counselling,” or simply unsure where to start, let us help. 

We have created a simple quiz that takes less than five minutes to complete. We will use your answers to better understand who you are and what you are looking for so we can match you with a top-ranked therapist or counselor in Westchester, NY. Click here to take the quiz. 

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