Download Therapies guide - Counselling Rooms

Counselling Rooms CiC
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Therapies Guide
Below are brief definitions of the different types of therapy that counsellors at Counselling Rooms offer.
There is also a section on the BACP website that provides information about different types of therapy
at www.itsgoodtotalk.org.uk/what-is-therapy/types-of-therapy. They also provide a helpful guide to
thinking about how to choose a therapist at: www.itsgoodtotalk.org.uk/what-is-therapy/finding-theright-therapist
It is generally accepted that one of the most important factors in the success of counselling is the quality
of the relationship between the client and the counsellor. In other words, it’s important that as a client
you choose a person with whom you feel comfortable and who you trust. This often comes down to
individual personality and a sense of a good ‘fit’ which is something that is different for each person. You
may wish to talk to a few counsellors before you decide who feels like the best person to work with for
you, or which approach may suit you best. Feel free to ask any questions you may have and to take your
time in deciding what is right for you.
CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) uses both Cognitive Therapy (looking at thought processes) and
Behavioural Therapy (looking at a person’s actions and behaviours). Clients are encouraged to look
closely at their thoughts, feelings and behaviours and to challenge and test thoughts, assumptions, and
beliefs that they hold which might be unhelpful and unrealistic. In this way clients are able to try out
new ways of thinking, reacting and behaving and to gradually face activities which may have been
avoided in the past. CBT work may involve clients being asked to keep a diary and record their day-today thoughts and feelings, and/or to do ‘homework’ in-between sessions. It is generally more structured
than some other types of therapy and has been found to be effective for anxiety disorders and social
phobia.
Mindfulness-based CBT incorporates the core components of CBT but introduces mindfulness practices
such as focused breathing and meditation as a vehicle for developing awareness of thought processes
and their effects on emotions and behaviour, whilst also acknowledging that we exist independently of
our thoughts and therefore do not have to respond to them.
Person-Centred Counselling has developed from the work of Carl Rogers and is a humanistic therapy
grounded in a deep respect for the individual and a faith in their potential. Person-centred counsellors
aim to provide an accepting environment, offering the clients the ‘core conditions’ of empathy, nonjudgement and congruence (being genuine). It is believed that when a person if offered such a
relationship that this allows them to access their own inner resources to understand themselves better,
find solutions to their problems, develop and grow as a person and to achieve their own goals and
aspirations. Person-centred counselling is non-directive and clients are encouraged to choose the
direction of the work and bring up what feels important for them in each session. It can be short or long
term and generally the length of therapy is dictated by the client’s needs. For more information have a
look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Person-centered_therapy. Most counsellors are members of the
BACP, the main counselling regulatory body which can be found at www.bacp.co.uk
Psychosexual therapy works with either individuals or couples, providing a safe and non-judgemental space to
assist people who are experiencing sexual difficulties, including: those who have gone off sex or those whose sexual
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Registered in England and Wales, number 7711530
appetite has changed; people who have experienced surgery, major illness or a life change (eg menopause) and are
finding their sexual functioning isn't what it used to be; those who have always found sex difficult (difficulty with
orgasms, with erections, finding sex painful or impossible); people with challenges around their sexual identity – or
their sexual preferences. These and many other concerns can be addressed through psychosexual therapy. Using
an integrative approach that is rooted in CBT, psychosexual therapy allows clients to explore in the therapy room
what thoughts or beliefs might be maintaining the problem and then take tasks away to do in the privacy of their
own home. Psychosexual therapy is respectful of minority sexual preferences and takes a non-pathologising
approach. The professional body that regulates psychosexual therapy is COSRT (College of Sexual and Relationship
Therapists) www.cosrt.org.uk
Psychosynthesis was developed by Robert Assagioli, and is concerned with the realisation of an individual’s
potential and the harmonisation of all elements of their personality. Initially a psychosynthesis practitioner will help
an individual to attain a certain level of self-knowledge and self awareness. using therapeutic methods like creative
visualisation, free drawing, physical expression, writing and meditation. There are certain situations and personal
capacities towards which we are all more or less unconsciously attracted: for instance, the ability to enjoy good
relationships with others, to have good health, to make free and conscious decisions, to use our mind to its
maximum potential, to appreciate all that is beautiful, to be competent in our work and calm even in moments of
crisis, to be open to serenity and joy, and finally, to be able to love and be loved. Psychosynthesis helps an
individual to identify and understand the different parts of their psyche and how best to integrate them.
This approach helps individuals to see where they may have become “stuck”, and to understand the factors which
may be preventing them from reaching goals like these. Psychosynthesis honours an individual’s spirituality and is
particularly effective for those individuals who may already have, or want to develop, a spiritual practice.
There are 3 bodies who govern this work: United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
www.psychotherapy.org.uk , European Federation for Psychosynthesis Psychotherapy (EFPP) www.efpp.org and
European Association for Psychotherapy www.europsyche.org
Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy
Transactional analysis (TA) can be used with individuals, groups, couples and families. It addresses
psychological issues through a theory of personality, a theory of communication and a theory of child
development, to provide a systematic approach for personal growth and change. It is used in the
treatment of all types of psychological disorders, from everyday problems to severe psychosis. It is based
on the idea of an exploration of the individuals’ inner world through a strong therapeutic relationship
between the therapist and the client/s in order to explain psychological difficulties and provide a method
for overcoming these difficulties, through moving from the intrapersonal (the inner experience) to the
interpersonal (the shared experience). The origins of problems are given a greater analysis in
transactional analysis psychotherapy compared to counselling and cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)
which focus more on the here and now. For more information on Transactional Analysis, the ITA, the
professional body that regulates TA therapists can be found at http://www.ita.org.uk
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A Community Interest Company
Registered in England and Wales, number 7711530