Differences Between Counseling and Psychotherapy
Counseling Theories
August 3, 1995 Running head: Coun. v. Psychotherapy Counseling v. psychotherapy
is there a difference between the two? This paper will attempt to prove that
there are several differences between counseling and psychotherapy. While
counseling and psychotherapy have several different elements in each, the
following information will also attempt to show the reader that there are some
areas where the two overlap. At times this was a confusing topic to research. A
fine line distinguishes the two topics and one must look hard to see this line.
Definition of Counseling One survey taken by Gustad suggests a definition of
counseling where he included three key elements. Counseling is a
learning-oriented process, carried on in a simple, one to one social
environment, in which a counselor, professionally competent in relevant
psychological skills and knowledge, seeks to assist the client by methods
appropriate to the latter's needs and within the context of the total personnel
program, to learn more about himself, to learn how to put such understanding
into effect in relation to more clearly perceived, realistically defined goals
to the ` end that the client may become a happier and more productive member of
his society (1957, p. 36). In lay terms counseling can be described as a face to
face relationship, having goals to help a client to learn or acquire new skills
which will enable them to cope and adjust to life situations. The focus is to
help a person reach maximum fulfillment or potential, and to become fully
functioning as a person. Definition of Psychotherapy Psychotherapy is the
process inwhich a therapists assists the client in re-organizing his or her
personality. The therapist also helps the client integrate insights into
everyday behavior. Psychotherapy can be defined as "more inclusive re-education
of the individual" (Brammer& Shostrom,1977). Objectives of counseling The
objectives of counseling according to the Committee on Definition, Division of
Counseling Psychology, American Psychological Association are to "help
individuals toward overcoming obstacles to their personal growth, wherever these
may be encountered, and toward achieving optimum development of their personal
resources" (Arbuckle, 1967). In a paper written by Dr. T. Millard, it is stated
that "Counseling provides clarity and a positive and constructive venue for the
individual to sensibly examine the instinctive-emotional and rational (or
irrational) motives which determine the drive, content, and even the form of
human conduct." This shows the part which counseling plays in a clients
treatment. Objectives of psychotherapy According to Everett Shostrom (1967) ,
the goal of psychotherapy is " to become an actualizer, a person who appreciates
himself and others as persons rather than things and who has turned his self
defeating manipulations into self fulfilling potentials (p. 9). Shostrom also
feels that awareness is the goal of psychotherapy, "The reason is that change
occurs with awareness!" (1967 p. 103). Shostrom feels that awareness is a form
of non-striving achieved by being what you are at the moment,l even if what you
are means the phony manipulative role that we all play sometimes for external
support (1967 p. 103). Professional opinions Not all therapists feel that there
is a distinction between counseling and psychotherapy. C.H. Patterson feels that
it is impossible to make a distinction, He feels that the definition of
counseling equally applies as well to psychotherapy and vice a versa. Donald
Arbuckle (1967) argues that counseling and psychotherapy are identical in all
essential aspects. Others believe that there is a distinction. Psychotherapy is
concerned with some type of personality change where counseling is concerned
with helping individuals utilize full coping potential. IN Donald Arbuckle's
work he included Leona Tyler's thoughts on the differences between counseling
and psychotherapy. Leona Tyler attempts to differ between counseling and
psychotherapy by stating, "to remove physical and mental handicaps or to rid of
limitations is not the job of the counselor, this is the job of the therapist
which is aimed essentially at change rather than fulfillment (Arbuckle 1967).
Differences between counseling and psychotherapy One of the major distinctions
between counseling and psychotherapy is the focus. In counseling, the counselor
will focus on the "here and now", reality situations. During psychotherapy, the
therapist is looking into the unconscious or past. A psychotherapist is looking
for a connection of past to undealt with problems which are now present in the
real world. Donald Arbuckle states, "There is a further distinction to be made.
This involves the nature or content of the problem which the client brings to
the counselor. A distinction is attempted between reality-oriented problems and
those problems which inhere in the personality of the individual" (1967, p.145).
Counseling and psychotherapy also differentiate when it comes to the level of
adjustment or maladjustment of the client. Counseling holds an emphasis on
"normals". One could classify "normals" as those without neurotic problems but
those who have become victims of pressures from outside environment. The
emphasis in psychotherapy however is on "neurotics" or other severe emotional
problems. Counseling can also be described as problem solving where in
psychotherapy it is more analytical. In counseling a client may have a situation
where they do not have any idea how to handle it. There are two types of
problems, solvable and unsolvable. If the problem is a solvable one, a therapist
may help that client by looking at the problem with them and helping the client
draw out solutions. When thinking of solutions one must also think of the
consequences. While counseling deals with problem solving, psychotherapy on the
other hand deals with the analytical view. Here the therapist would determine
the cause of ones behavior from the results of that behavior. An example could
be if a spouse was abusing the other spouse it could stem from the abusive
spouse's past. The abusive spouse may have been a victim of abuse as a child,
abused in a relationship themselves or even have been a witness to abuse. The
counselor would analyze each act and try to link it to something in the
unconscious past. Length of treatment also differs between counseling and
psychotherapy. Counseling is shorter in duration than psychotherapy. The time
spent in counseling is determined by goals set by the client and the counselor.
Once these goals are met the client should then be able to go back on their own.
Psychotherapy tends to last a while longer. Sessions range from two to five
years. Psychotherapy is more of a comprehensive re-education of the client. The
intensity and length of therapy depends on how well the client can deal with all
of the new found information. It could take quite sometime for the client to be
able to live with these feelings which originated in past experiences which are
usually hurtful ones. A -psychotherapists also needs time to modify all existing
defenses. The setting of treatment also differs between counseling and
psychotherapy. A counseling session usually takes place in a non medical setting
such as an office. Psychotherapy is the term used more in a medical setting such
as a clinic or hospital. Another difference between counseling and psychotherapy
has to do with transference. Brammer and Shostrom (1977) state, "The counselor
develops a close personal relationship with the client, but he does not
encourage or allow strong transference feelings as does the psychotherapist
(p.223). The counselor tends to find this transference as interfering with his
or her counseling effectiveness. A psychotherapist might feel that this
transference is helpful and the client may be able to see what he is trying to
do with the therapist relationship. A counselor may look at transference as
"manifestations in an incomplete growing up process"(Brammer & Shostrom
1977), where the psychotherapist interprets these transference feelings as an
unconscious nature of feelings. Resistance is another area of counseling and
psychotherapy that tends to differ. Counselors see resistance as something that
opposes or goes against problem solving. A counselor tries to reduce this as
much ass possible. A psychotherapist on the other hand finds resistance to be
very important. If the therapist can understand the clients resistance, he can
then understand how to help the client change his or her personality.
Similarities in counseling and psychotherapy While there are clearly many
differences between the counseling approach and psychotherapy, there are some
similarities between the two. First, each of these are similar in the sense that
each client brings with them the assets, skills, strengths and possibilities
needed with them to therapy. Secondly, counseling and psychotherapy are similar
in the way that they both use an eclectic approach. The counselors and
therapists do not have only one technique, they borrow from all different
techniques. Arbuckle argues that" counseling and psychotherapy are in all
essential respects identical" (1967, p.144) He states that the nature of the
relationship which is considered basic in counseling and psychotherapy are
identical. Secondly, Arbuckle says that the process of counseling cannot be
distinguished from the process of psychotherapy. Third of all he feels that the
methods or techniques are identical. Arbuckle lastly states in the matter of
goals and or outcomes there may appear to be differences but no distinction is
possible. One major similarity between counseling and psychotherapy are the
elements which build a person's personality. Each of these processes deal with
attitudes, feelings, interests, goals, self esteem and related behaviors are all
which are affected through counseling and psychotherapy. Summary and Conclusion
One can see from the material provided that there are several differences
between counseling and psychotherapy. The biggest difference in my opinion is
the time factor/ focus faced in each of these approaches. Counseling primarily
deals with reality situations versus the unconscious past focus of
psychotherapy. Secondly counseling has been described as helping one to develop
competencies in coping with life situations where as psychotherapy is a re
organization of one's whole personality. Finally a last distinction is that the
counselor deals with life adjustment problems while the psychotherapist deals
with past unresolved issues from the family of origin. While there are many
distinguishing differences between counseling and psychotherapy, there are some
aspects that do spill over into each other. As one can see by the graph provided
(see figure. 1.1) there is a section where the two approaches cross paths. One
must definitely take a close look at counseling and psychotherapy to distinguish
whether or not there is a difference between the two approaches. I found this to
be a very confusing topic at times. Just when I thought I had completely grasped
a concept I would run across authors such as Arbuckle who speaks of the fact
that one can not distinguish counseling from psychotherapy. Luckily, I
researched part of this topic using my class notes, to my advantage the lecture
on June 15, 1995 discussed the differences between counseling and psychotherapy.
After reading these notes I realized that I was right on track and there is a
difference between counseling and psychotherapy References Arbuckle, D. S.
(1967). Counseling and Psychotherapy: An Overview. New York: McGraw Hill.
Bettelheim, B. & Rosenfeld, A. (1993). The Art of the Obvious...Developing
Insight For Psychotherapy and Everyday Life. New York: Knopf. Brammer, L . &
Shostrom, E. (1977). Theraputic Psychology: Fundamentals of Counseling and
Psychotherapy Third Edition. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall. Rogers, C.
(1951). Client Centered Therapy. New York: Houghton Mifflin. Shostrom, E.
(1967). Man the Manipulator. Nashville, Tennessee: Abingdon Press.