Alison Penfold
Counsellor

and Psychotherapist

BA (hons) MBACP

What is counselling and psychotherapy?

The distinction between Counselling and Psychotherapy often causes confusion.  The two names are often used interchangeably, and whilst both might focus on either a single issue or a range of concerns, it might generally be considered that counselling more readily refers to shorter term therapy (where there might be a clearer goal and focus), and that psychotherapy describes therapy in which the client is supported over a longer period to identify, understand and change patterns of behaviour which are now experienced as problematic.