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Counselling, in psychiatry, has taken the therapeutic skills developed in various areas of psychology which correspond most closely to the helping skills of caring, listening and reflection. With the aim of creating a trusting relationship and being supportive, while giving little or no direction or advice, counselling endeavours to enable people to develop insight into their problems and to find resources within themselves by looking at their lives in a fresh way.
Whereas psychotherapy tends to look at more deep-seated problems, counselling tends to focus on specific current problems. It is a concentrated kind of help, using human skills like questioning to explore personal distress and to make sense of unhappiness. It has been found that this simplified approach can reduce anxiety and relieve depression. Both counsellors and therapists take on the traditional role once filled by elders and priests. MJ
Further reading Carl R. Rogers, Counselling and Psychotherapy. |
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