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.