Is their any difference between counselling and psychotherapy as different Dr. suggest different things for major depression ,gad & schizophrenia.

Question

Dear lybrate user,
counselling typically is for a shorter duration and psychotherapy is for a longer duration. In situational difficulties or simple problems counselling is helpful but for conditions of slightly major intensity like moderate to severe depression, addictions, schizophrenia etc. Psychotherapy is used. Psychotherapist uses one particular therapeutic approach to deal with the person's problems. But in counselling integrative (mixed) therapy approach can be used. Counselling is more about making the person aware about his/her own mind set, values and perceptions and thought processes and it encourages the person to modify his/her perceptions or reactions etc. Psychotherapy is a slow and steady effort which follows specific guidelines of a therapy and ultimately helps the person to come out of acute depression, anxiety, phobia etc.
While in counselling, a person need not be under medication. But mostly when under psychotherapy the person is put on some medication by the psychiatrist (not the counsellor), here medication and therapy goes hand in hand.

Hemal Sanjay Kunte · Accepted Answer

Dear lybrate user,
counselling typically is for a shorter duration and psychotherapy is for a longer duration. In situational difficulties or simple problems counselling is helpful but for conditions of slightly major intensity like moderate to severe depression, addictions, schizophrenia etc. Psychotherapy is used. Psychotherapist uses one particular therapeutic approach to deal with the person's problems. But in counselling integrative (mixed) therapy approach can be used. Counselling is more about making the person aware about his/her own mind set, values and perceptions and thought processes and it encourages the person to modify his/her perceptions or reactions etc. Psychotherapy is a slow and steady effort which follows specific guidelines of a therapy and ultimately helps the person to come out of acute depression, anxiety, phobia etc.
While in counselling, a person need not be under medication. But mostly when under psychotherapy the person is put on some medication by the psychiatrist (not the counsellor), here medication and therapy goes hand in hand.