Counselling and Psychotherapy Assignment 1
Assignment Submission
Assignment one.
Question 1: Analyse the differences and similarities between counselling and psychotherapy making reference of the terms ‘Counsellor’ and ‘Psychotherapist’.
A common misconception about Counselling and Psychotherapy is that it is simply an advice giving service, this view is further perpetuated by the practices of dictionaries who define counselling as,” The job or the process of listening to someone and giving them advice about their problems.” (Cambridge dictionary, 2007)1
This perception is also popularised as such in movies like “The Accidental Husband” and the hit TV show, ‘Frasier’, which saw Uma Thurman and Kelsey Grammar portray radio counsellors that gave advice, respectively.
However despite the popularisation of the image of the counsellor or psychotherapist providing an advice service, this perception couldn’t be further from the truth, at least according to The British Association for Counselling (BAC) 2010, who states on their website,” Therapy is not advice giving or persuasion orientated to the therapist 's point of view”.
The British Association for Counselling (BACP), 1986a, instead defines counselling as “Counselling is the skilled and principled use of relationship to facilitate self- knowledge, emotional acceptance and growth and the optimal development of personal resources. The overall aim is to provide an opportunity to work towards living more satisfyingly and resourcefully.” the BAC goes on to define the role of the counsellor as “The counsellor’s role is to facilitate the clients work in ways that respect the client’s values, personal resources and capacity for self-determination. (1986b)3.
Norcross, (1990) defines Psychotherapy as, ‘Psychotherapy is the informed and intentional application of clinical methods and interpersonal stances derived from established psychological principles for the purpose of assisting people to modify their behaviours, cognitions, emotions, and/or
Assignment one.
Question 1: Analyse the differences and similarities between counselling and psychotherapy making reference of the terms ‘Counsellor’ and ‘Psychotherapist’.
A common misconception about Counselling and Psychotherapy is that it is simply an advice giving service, this view is further perpetuated by the practices of dictionaries who define counselling as,” The job or the process of listening to someone and giving them advice about their problems.” (Cambridge dictionary, 2007)1
This perception is also popularised as such in movies like “The Accidental Husband” and the hit TV show, ‘Frasier’, which saw Uma Thurman and Kelsey Grammar portray radio counsellors that gave advice, respectively.
However despite the popularisation of the image of the counsellor or psychotherapist providing an advice service, this perception couldn’t be further from the truth, at least according to The British Association for Counselling (BAC) 2010, who states on their website,” Therapy is not advice giving or persuasion orientated to the therapist 's point of view”.
The British Association for Counselling (BACP), 1986a, instead defines counselling as “Counselling is the skilled and principled use of relationship to facilitate self- knowledge, emotional acceptance and growth and the optimal development of personal resources. The overall aim is to provide an opportunity to work towards living more satisfyingly and resourcefully.” the BAC goes on to define the role of the counsellor as “The counsellor’s role is to facilitate the clients work in ways that respect the client’s values, personal resources and capacity for self-determination. (1986b)3.
Norcross, (1990) defines Psychotherapy as, ‘Psychotherapy is the informed and intentional application of clinical methods and interpersonal stances derived from established psychological principles for the purpose of assisting people to modify their behaviours, cognitions, emotions, and/or
References: 3.1986a and 1986b- BAC (1986) Counselling-Definition of terms in use with expansion and rationale (Information Sheet 1). 4. Norcross, J.C. (1990). An eclectic definition of psychotherapy. In J.K. Zeig & W.M. Munion (Eds.), What is psychotherapy? Contemporary perspectives (218-220). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass 5 6. Patterson, C.H (1974) relationship and psychotherapy, New York, Harper and Row. 7. Deffenbacher,J. L. (1985) A cognitive-behavioural response and a modest Proposal