Counselling and Psychotherapy are terms often used interchangeably. Although there are differences between the two, opinion is divided over their exact definitions. Both describe a process of talking about yourself with somebody whose job it is to listen and with whom you develop a trusting and supportive relationship.

The objective of this relationship will vary but should be defined by your needs as the client. It may be concerned with:

• developmental issues
• addressing and resolving specific problems
• coping with crises
• developing personal insight and knowledge
• working through inner feelings of conflict
  
• improving relationships with others

Psychotherapy/Counselling may be provided for individuals or children, couples, families for a group and is available within mental health services and privately.

What is the difference between Counselling and Psychotherapy ?

Counselling is a contractual process undertaken by qualified psychological therapists to enable patients to identify their sources of distress, to explore ways of coping more effectively and to implement change, and tolerate change to their lives.

A qualified counsellor (as distinct from somebody using counselling skills) will be either a registered member of one of the following organisations:
United Kingdom Council of Psychotherapy (UKCP)
British Confederation of Psychotherapists (BCP)
British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
Counselling in Primary Care Trust (CPCT)
or be a chartered counselling psychologist,

Psychotherapy is generally more concerned with personality change than helping an individual use their own coping resources. They generally work longer term and often see people with long-standing problems, although they may also work with people for shorter periods of less intensive treatment. Psychotherapists on the whole have a more rigorous selection procedure and a longer training with greater emphasis on personal therapy.

A qualified psychotherapist will be a registered member of either the UKCP or the BCP.

How can it help me?
Counselling and Psychotherapy can help you to do some of the following

• make sense of your fears and anxieties
• feel less alone and down
• share your loss and grief
• think about and understand your emotions
• find stability in a crisis
• look at better ways of communicating
• begin to find answers to your problems and concerns
• discover new perspectives on life
  
  

Professional Bodies
The BACP, UKCP, BAP and CPCT are umbrella organisations offering accreditation to psychotherapists and counsellors and their organisations in the UK. All publish lists of registered counsellors and psychotherapists in Herefordshire which are available from their websites or by post:

British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
1 Regent Place
Rugby
Warwickshire
CV21 2PJ
Tel: 01788 550899

United Kingdom Council of Psychotherapy
167-169 Great Portland St
London
W1N 5FB
Tel: 020 7436 3002

British Confederation of Psychotherapists
37 Mapesbury Road
London
NW2 4HJ
Tel: 020 8830 5173

Counselling in Primary Care Trust
Majestic House
High Street
Staines
Middlesex
TW18 4DG
Tel: 01784 441782

The Hereford Counselling and Psychological Therapies Forum
27a St Owen's St
Hereford
Tel: 01432 270123
Contact: Phil Turner
The Forum meets monthly to provide a local regulatory framework for counselling and psychotherapy and will shortly be publishing a list of qualified counsellors and psychotherapists in Herefordshire.

Choosing talking therapies
Department of Health site about counselling and psychotherapy.

Counsellors in General Practice

Most GP practices in Herefordshire have a counsellor attached to the surgery to whom your doctor can refer you if you need to talk through problems that do not need the attention of specialist mental health services. These counsellors will either be experienced mental health professionals with counselling skills developed as part of their practice or qualified counsellors employed on a sessional basis.

Finding a private counsellor or therapist

Personal recommendation from someone who has been seen and helped by that person is probably the best way of finding a therapist but in any event make sure that whoever you see is an accredited member of one of the four organisations listed above.
Accreditation will mean that your counsellor has done some training, is insured and is bound by a code of ethics. It also means you have somewhere to address a complaint in the event of things going badly wrong.
Remember, you are buying a service (even if it doesn't always feel like it ! ) so you have every right to ask as much as you want about your counsellor's training, qualifications and experience of helping people in your situation. If you don't like your therapist, don't go back. There's plenty more out there!

Questions to ask a prospective counsellor or psychotherapist:

• Where did you do your training? Do you have a diploma/degree?
• Do you belong to a professional association? Which one?
• How long have you been practicing?
• Do you have an area of specialism?
• How many cases like mine have you dealt with in the course of your career?
• What type of therapy do you practice? Can you explain it to me?
• How long do you think I will need to come?
• What do you think about medication?
• Do you keep clinical records?
• What do you believe about…….(divorce, abortion, homosexuality, religion, etc.)
• Will you be supervised on the work you do with me ?
• Will I have to pay for cancelled sessions ?

Some of theses questions you can ask over the phone when you first make contact The professional counsellor will typically keep telephone consultations quite brief. Discussing your problems at length over the telephone, doing a complete assessment, providing you with a diagnosis or a treatment plan does not reflect the professional conduct that you should expect from a qualified counsellor.

Some counsellors will offer a free consultation in their office ranging from 20 minutes to one hour. The purpose of this initial consultation is to:

• allow you to ask any questions about the therapeutic style of the therapist
• meet the person to assess your level of comfort and compatibility
• start on the therapy so that by the end of this session, you have enough information to make your decision
  
  

How much should I pay?
Practitioners are free to set their own rates and it is worthwhile trying to negotiate a concessionary rate. Prices in Herefordshire generally range between £20 and £40 an hour.

How to spot a dodgy therapist:

• Someone who talks about themselves all the time.
• Someone who puts you under pressure to keep coming when you don't want to.
• Someone who wants to see you outside of your sessions.
• Someone who is charging much more than the going rate in this area (£20 - 35).
• Someone who fails to keep to the agreed times of your sessions.
• Someone who touches your knee once too often.