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Choosing Talking therapies - Counselling and psychotherapy

Counselling and psychotherapy are forms of talking therapy that assist people with either specific problems that may be current (e.g. redundancy, bereavement ) or longer term more intractable problems ( e.g. depression and anxiety). Talking therapies are now part of the government’s health agenda for the 21st century. The Guardian Newspaper reported in 2006 that the government had specifically recommended that counselling (and a particular form of counselling i.e. cognitive behavioural therapy or CBT) should be available to mental health patients, particularly those with schizophrenia. However, the Healthcare commission found that only 50% of patients were given access to it (The Guardian 29 September 2006). CBT is a particular form of therapy that has gained much support in government circles as it is often short term and is goal-oriented.

The Department of Health acknowledge that “more research has been done on cognitive behaviour therapy than on other therapies and it has been shown to work for a variety of mental health problems. This evidence doesn’t mean it is better than other therapies, but simply that others have not been studied so closely” (Choosing Talking therapies? DoH, 2001). In fact research into the common factors that are present in all forms of therapy suggest that it is the relationship between the therapist and client that is the most important in facilitating a positive outcome for the client rather than a specific set of techniques.

Counselling and Psychotherapy is a relatively new profession here in the UK and certainly its relationship with traditional medicine is still developing. Counselling and psychotherapy offer an opportunity to work in a helping role with individuals and families both within the NHS and in other environments such as Education. With these forms of therapy becoming more recognised within mainstream medicine the career opportunities for these broader based helping roles are beginning to develop. Whether you choose to train in CBT or another form of therapy it will certainly offer you a rewarding and challenging programme of study. Here at Nottingham we focus on a more relationship focussed form of therapy known as the humanistic approach. In brief, the humanistic approach assumes that given the right conditions, people will become more aware and in touch with their inner wisdom. They will learn for example, to discriminate between what is healthy and what is damaging for them. With enhanced awareness and self-acceptance they are more fluid and flexible in their responses to others and able to make decisions based on self-knowledge and consideration of choices rather than on habit or people pleasing.

Whatever you choose to study I wish you every success in your future endeavours. Click here to find out more about studying education at post graduate level

Lindsay Cooper
Centre for the Study of Human Relations
University of Nottingham