Helping professionals have a jargon, and many clients not wanting to look uninformed, simply don’t ask about the process. Shouldn’t the details be left up to the person doing the work?
I don’t ask my mechanic about fuel injector settings, or my baker about the time for bread to rise.
But, sitting in a session is different. YOU are the point. You are what we are working on, so it is reasonable to understand what a counselor/therapist is doing, what he or she thinking, how they evaluate you. It can be helpful to have an understanding.
Counseling is a process of helping a client sort out a problem in their current life situation. The focus is on situational facts and people involved. If there are conflicts, we are trying to clarify the different points of view. Hopefully, the best choice or decision is reached by better understanding of the landscape in current life events.
It is current, it is topical, and it on the surface.
Psychotherapy is a related but different process. We are concerned with deeply held beliefs from the past which are influencing your experiences in a negative way. It is fundamental, it is more integral to who you are. It goes to the core of your most deeply held beliefs to help YOU create a change in YOU. (And that’s what you came in for, right?) Clearly, this is no easy task.
It is historical, it is personal, and digs deep.
Can it be both? Can a person’s integral core beliefs impact their current life decision making process? Most certainly it can.
Many therapists, including myself, will often stop and ask themselves, “Is this a counseling issue, or a psychotherapy issue?” Asking the question will act as a guide; this is one of the ways we work.
Going forward, if you are sitting with a therapist/counselor, it may be valuable to understand which direction YOU two are going? If you cannot tell, ask! There is nothing wrong with checking the compass settings of your therapist.
After all, YOU are the point.
Most Sincerely,
Paul Brooke Hugens, MA
Paul Brooke is a Psychotherapist/Counselor located in Stuart, Florida.
He can be reached at 772 708 6933 or [email protected]
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