Hi scars, glad you're posting away!

I'm no expert and this is just the idea I have of it but I think therapy is more long term than counselling. And counselling is more directed to a specific problem.

For example, when I started seeing my T it was counselling, because I came to him with a very specific issue that I wanted to work on and I assumed it would take a few sessions, he'd give me some neat advice, and I'd be back to the real world. Imagine going to counselling to "quit smoking" or something like that.

However, for me things mutated into therapy very quickly because there were so many core issues that were affecting my life, and I was willing to work on them. So now I'm on long term therapy.

I'm not sure that being open (or not) to your T is related directly to the above. Because therapy is more long term and we tend to get more relaxed with Ts that we've seen for longer, maybe we open up more but it takes time, for some people more than others. I also have silent moments with my T (I dread those!), I usually tell him "I don't know what to say" because they are so uncomfortable, and usually he helps with those.
Have you thought about writing down the stuff that you find it hard to say? And then you can read it aloud to him or give it to him. Just an idea

I hope to see you around

Hey and welcome to the forum!

I have wondered about this myself. My T has used both of those words to refer to our work together at different points, and she seems to use them interchangeably. I've meant to ask her what the difference is, if there is one, but it's one of those things I keep forgetting about, lol.

Personally I prefer to say therapy, because to me "counselling" seems to imply giving advice. I don't want advice. :P That's just my personal spin on things, though, and I'm sure has nothing to do with the real definiton, whatever that may be.

Thanks Eliana and Hic

I have written things down before, but he wont read them alone, I have to be there. I did it once because I explained that I would only discuss something written if he had read it beforehand. I cannot seem to handle the immediate. Perhaps it is the fact that I am always anticipating a response and therefore have an answer ready and then guessing his response to that and so on and so on.

I have been with him a certain amount of time now so I would now consider this to be long term counselling or therapy. I am comfortable with that I guess, I asked the question because quite a few people always say, "are you still seeing him, is it working, are you sure". I suppose I just need to be comfortable with my own feelings about it and never mind the rest!!

Hi scars09 and welcome to the board. I hope you find the support and information that you need here.

In my mind, the difference between counseling and psychotherapy is that a counselor usually works on a short-term basis but the more important difference is that a counselor will advise on current, life events that are going on. That would include a recent grief, a decision about a job or school, a career change, having a baby or adopting, moving to a new area, parenting issues, etc. I think it's more of advice giving or laying out a plan of action to help you achieve a specific goal or make a specific decision.

Counselors do not do psychotherapy or deep therapy that addresses childhood abuse, trauma or attachment injury. This would be a long-term therapy that involves looking at your past, doing deep grief work, addressing fears, anxiety and depression.

I hope this helps!

TN