Different types of counselling

Counselling and psychotherapy draw from different evidence-based, psychological methods. Approaches and treatment plans can differ widely and will depend entirely on what the client needs. No two people are the same, so no two treatment plans will be identical.

There are more than 100 modalities that counsellors can work from, many with similar approaches or treatment styles. Here are some of the most common.

Person-centred counselling – Led by the client, person-centred counsellors help to guide sessions by reflecting back and mirroring the client’s experience of the world and their experience of it. By providing a non-judgemental space, built on rapport and trust, the therapist walks alongside the client and supports them to develop new strategies that lead to healthier outcomes.

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) – Based on the theory that thoughts can dictate how we feel and behave, CBT employs many different strategies that challenge negative thought patterns and help to build more positive responses to people and our environment.

Narrative therapy – Developed from the idea that our lives are made up of different stories, Narrative Therapy aims to empower the client as the author of their own experience and helps to reposition our understanding of experiences and who we are within them.

Psychoanalytic therapy – Created from the original works of Sigmund Freud, moder day psychoanalysis looks to our infancy and childhood and how that has shaped and influenced our experience of the world as adults. By challenging developed habits and gaining a greater understanding of where our place within the world comes from, we can learn and adapt to form healthier responses.

Arts-based therapy – An umbrella term that can include many different creative mediums, including journaling, painting, sand or clay play, music, drama and more, art-based therapies have proved especially helpful when words or language are difficult for the client. Arts-based therapy also offers a non-verbal expression of thoughts and feelings that can help to externalise negative experiences as separate from the person.

If you would like to know more about a particular counselling model, contact us here.