Psychotherapy, Counselling, and Therapy: What’s the Difference?

When people are looking for support, they often hear the words psychotherapy, counselling, and therapy used interchangeably. While they overlap, each has a slightly different emphasis.

Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a deeper process that looks at patterns of thought, emotion, and behaviour that may come from past experiences, relationships, or trauma. It often explores the “why” behind struggles and helps people build lasting change at the root level. Psychotherapy can be short- or long-term and may draw on different approaches such as cognitive-behavioural, psychodynamic, or integrative models.

Counselling
Counselling is often more focused on present-day challenges. It tends to be shorter-term, practical, and solution-focused—helping you manage specific issues like stress, grief, work conflicts, or life transitions. Counselling gives you tools and strategies you can apply right away to improve your well-being.

Therapy
Therapy is an umbrella term that includes both psychotherapy and counselling. People use it to describe a supportive, professional relationship where you can talk about what’s happening in your life, gain new perspectives, and find healthier ways to cope.

In my practice, I offer psychotherapy and counselling depending on what’s most helpful for you. Sometimes that means working through deeper patterns; other times it means finding concrete strategies for today’s challenges. Most often, it’s a blend of both.