Differences between Psychotherapy and Counselling

Person-centred counselling is a non-authoritative approach that allows clients to take more of a lead in sessions and discover their own solutions. Developed by American psychologist Carl Rogers, he believed that every person is unique and, therefore, everyone’s view of their own world and ability to manage it should be trusted.   Rogers advocated the theory of self-actualisation. An idea that each of us has the power to make appropriate changes in our lives. He initially referred to this approach as non-directive therapy since it required the therapist to follow the client’s lead and not direct sessions. It was a concept that changed the perception of the therapeutic practice of the time, such as psychoanalysis and behaviourism. During person-centred therapy, a therapist acts as a compassionate guide, listening without judgment and acknowledging the client’s experience without shifting the conversation in another direction. The therapist is there to encourage and support the client without interrupting or interfering with their process of self-discovery as they uncover their pain and what is needed to repair it.

Internal Family Systems (IFS) is an evidence-based approach that assumes each individual possesses a variety of sub-personalities, or “parts,” and attempts to get to know each of these parts better to achieve healing. By learning how different parts function as a system and how the overall system reacts, clients can often become better able to identify the roots of their struggles, manage life challenges, and achieve greater well-being.  IFS also combines various strategies from Bowenian therapy and techniques from more traditional therapies, such as Rogers's person-centred model. The different elements are united in understanding and effectively addressing the different parts of the mind. Though this therapy technique sees each level of the mind as having different sub-personalities, each sub-personality has its own likes, dislikes, burdens, and history. Each sub-personality is thought to play a distinct role in achieving self-preservation for the client in therapy. Every part of a person is responsible for warding off behaviours, actions, or reactions that could result in dysfunction or disharmony within the individual. Thus, each part is recognised as important. Parts may be identified as having either healthy and productive roles or extreme roles. Those parts with roles considered extreme may benefit from therapeutic work. The IFS model emphasises the network of relationships between parts, as parts may not be able to experience a change in isolation.