Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) or Counselling. Which is right for me?

It can be really hard to know what type of therapy would be helpful to us when all we really want is for our problem to just go away. We feel that just any solution to help the anxiety go away as quick as possible would be most helpful but knowing the difference between therapies can be really helpful in helping us to achieve the desired outcome saving alot of time, money and distress in the long run. I have put together a brief summary of the difference between CBT and counselling to help you make a decision.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy CBT 

• Focuses on the ‘here and now’ whilst sometimes drawing links to previous experiences, the treatment wont focus on the past as such, more about how those experiences are maintaining how you feel now or how you cope with things.

• Structured and goal orientated.

• Involves homework or tasks that are just as important as the sessions themselves. 

• Is not a ‘quick fix’ takes time to build up the skills to help you feel better. 

• Looks at your thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations and behaviours and how they link together and what be maintaining the problem.

Counselling

• May allow you to talk and off load 

• May explore the past 

• Less structured and allow you to make sense of things 

• Does generally involve a takeaway task or homework unlike CBT 

• More helpful for relationship issues, childhood difficulties or grief 

Think about your goals. Do you want to change something? Then CBT may be right for you. Perhaps you just want to be able to talk to someone and process how you are feeling here is where counselling can be helpful. That said, I have come across people that want CBT as they want to change their negative thoughts about grief or their feelings they have associated with it. I would want to know whether there is some form of avoidance of difficult feelings and so believing CBT will help you think more positive (I will do a blog on CBT myths) and will magic those feeling away...they won't! Grief is awful and messy and will feel as such sometimes. Counselling may be help if you simply just want to explore and process the whole experience. CBT can be helpful if there are some particular emotions like guilt being felt, I would explore this more in session or if you hold some beliefs about the grief i.e. 'I should have done more to help/prevent' or 'I should not feel this way 8 years on following the loss.' 

I do have knowledge of other therapies that may be helpful to you so If you are still unsure, do reach out and contact me as it may be useful to discuss this further during our 15 minute free consultation.