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                      Differences Between

                 Counseling and Psychotherapy 






                      Counseling Theories



                         August 3, 1995







             Running head:  Coun. v. Psychotherapy










      Counseling v. psychotherapy is there a difference between the two?  This
     paper will attempt to prove that there are  several differences between
     counseling and psychotherapy.  While counseling and psychotherapy have
     several different elements in each,  the following information will also attempt
     to show the reader that there are some areas where the two overlap.  At times
     this was a confusing topic to research.  A fine line distinguishes the two topics
     and one must look hard to see this line.

     Definition of  Counseling
          One survey taken by Gustad suggests a definition of counseling where he
     included three key elements.  
               Counseling is a learning-oriented process, carried on in a             
                      simple, one to one social environment, in which a counselor,
               professionally competent in relevant psychological skills and
               knowledge, seeks to assist the client by methods appropriate
               to the latter's needs and within the context of the total 
               personnel program, to learn more about himself, to learn
               how to put such understanding into effect in relation to
               more clearly perceived, realistically defined goals to the
          `    end that the client may become a happier and more
               productive member of his society  (1957, p. 36).

          In lay terms counseling can be described as a face to face relationship,
     having goals to help a client to learn or acquire new skills which will enable
     them to cope and adjust to life situations.   The focus is to help a person reach
     maximum fulfillment or potential, and to become fully functioning as a 

     person.

     Definition of Psychotherapy
          Psychotherapy is the process inwhich a therapists assists the client in
          re-organizing his or her personality.  The therapist also helps the client
          integrate
     insights into everyday behavior.  Psychotherapy can be defined as "more
     inclusive re-education of the individual" (Brammer& Shostrom,1977).

     Objectives of counseling
          The objectives of counseling according to the Committee on Definition, 
     Division of Counseling Psychology, American Psychological Association are to
     "help individuals toward overcoming obstacles to their personal growth,
     wherever these may be encountered, and toward achieving optimum
     development of their personal resources" (Arbuckle, 1967).
          In a paper written by Dr. T. Millard,  it is stated that "Counseling
     provides clarity and a positive and constructive venue for the individual to
     sensibly examine the instinctive-emotional and rational (or irrational) motives
     which determine the drive, content, and even the form of human conduct."  
     This shows the part which counseling plays in a clients treatment.
     Objectives of  psychotherapy
          According to  Everett Shostrom (1967) , the goal of psychotherapy is "
     to become an actualizer, a person who appreciates himself and others as


     persons rather than things and who has turned his self defeating
     manipulations into self fulfilling potentials (p. 9).  Shostrom also feels that 
     awareness is the goal of psychotherapy, "The reason is that change occurs with
     awareness!" (1967 p. 103).  Shostrom feels that awareness is a form of non-striving
     achieved by being what you are at the moment,l even if what you are means the phony
     manipulative role that we all play sometimes for external support (1967 p. 103).

     Professional opinions
          Not all therapists feel that there is a distinction between counseling and
     psychotherapy.  C.H. Patterson feels that it is impossible  to make a
     distinction,  He feels that the definition of counseling equally applies as well to
     psychotherapy and vice a versa.  Donald Arbuckle (1967)  argues that counseling and
     psychotherapy are identical in all essential aspects.
          Others believe that there is a distinction.  Psychotherapy is concerned
     with some type of personality change where counseling is concerned with
     helping individuals utilize full coping potential. IN Donald Arbuckle's work he
     included Leona Tyler's thoughts on the differences between counseling and
     psychotherapy.  Leona Tyler attempts to differ between counseling and
     psychotherapy by stating, "to remove physical and mental handicaps or to rid
     of limitations is not the job of the counselor, this is the job of the therapist


     which is aimed essentially at change rather than fulfillment (Arbuckle 1967).

     Differences between counseling and psychotherapy

          One of the major distinctions between counseling and psychotherapy is the
     focus.  In counseling, the counselor will focus on the "here and now", reality
     situations.  During psychotherapy, the therapist is looking into the
     unconscious or past.  A psychotherapist is looking for a connection of past to
     undealt with problems which are now present in the real world.   Donald
     Arbuckle states, "There is a further distinction to be made.  This involves the
     nature or content of the problem which the client brings to the counselor.  A
     distinction is attempted between reality-oriented problems and those problems
     which inhere in the personality of the individual" (1967, p.145).
          Counseling and psychotherapy also differentiate when it comes to the level
     of adjustment or maladjustment of the client.  Counseling holds an emphasis
     on "normals".  One could classify "normals" as those without neurotic
     problems but those who have become victims of pressures from outside
     environment.  The emphasis in psychotherapy however is on "neurotics" or
     other severe emotional problems.
          Counseling can also be described as problem solving where in
     psychotherapy it is more analytical.  In counseling a client may have a


     situation where they do not have any idea how to handle it.  There are two
     types of problems, solvable and unsolvable.  If the problem is a solvable one, a
     therapist may help that client by looking at the problem with them and
     helping the client draw out solutions.  When thinking of solutions one must
     also think of the consequences.  

          While counseling deals with problem solving,  psychotherapy on the
     other hand deals with the analytical view.  Here the therapist would determine
     the cause of ones behavior from the results of that behavior.  An example
     could be if a spouse was abusing the other spouse it could stem from the
     abusive spouse's past.  The abusive spouse may have been a victim of abuse as
     a child, abused in a relationship themselves or even have been a witness to
     abuse.  The counselor would analyze each act and try to link it to something in
     the unconscious past.
          Length of treatment also differs between counseling and psychotherapy. 
     Counseling is shorter in duration than psychotherapy.  The time spent in
     counseling is determined by goals set by the client and the counselor.  Once
     these goals are met the client should then be able to go back on their own.       

          Psychotherapy tends to last a while longer.  Sessions range from two to 


     five years.   Psychotherapy is more of a comprehensive re-education of the
     client.  The intensity and length of therapy depends on how well the client can
     deal with all  of the new found information.  It could  take quite sometime for
     the client to  be able to live with these feelings which originated in past
     experiences which are usually hurtful ones.  A -psychotherapists also needs
     time to modify all existing defenses.

          The setting of treatment also differs between counseling and
     psychotherapy.  A counseling session usually takes place in a non medical
     setting such as an office.   Psychotherapy is the term used more in a medical
     setting such as a clinic or hospital.
          Another difference between counseling and psychotherapy has to do
     with transference.   Brammer and Shostrom (1977) state, "The counselor
     develops a close personal relationship with the client, but he does not
     encourage or allow strong transference feelings as does the psychotherapist
     (p.223).   The counselor tends to find this transference as interfering with his
     or her counseling effectiveness.  A psychotherapist might feel that this
     transference is helpful and the client may be able to see what he is trying to do
     with the therapist relationship.
          A counselor may look at transference as "manifestations in an
     incomplete growing up process"(Brammer & Shostrom 1977), where the


     psychotherapist interprets these transference feelings as an unconscious nature
     of feelings.

          Resistance is another area of counseling and psychotherapy that tends
     to differ.  Counselors see resistance as something that opposes or goes against
     problem solving.  A counselor tries to reduce this as much ass possible.  A
     psychotherapist on the other hand finds resistance to be very important.  If 
     the therapist can understand the clients resistance, he can then understand 
     how to help the client change his or her personality.

     Similarities in counseling and psychotherapy

          While there are clearly many differences between the counseling
     approach and psychotherapy, there are some similarities between the two.
          First, each of these are similar in the sense that each client brings with
     them the assets, skills, strengths and possibilities needed with them to therapy.
          Secondly,  counseling and psychotherapy are similar in the way that
     they both use an eclectic approach.  The counselors and therapists do not have
     only one technique, they borrow from all different techniques.  
          Arbuckle argues that" counseling and psychotherapy are in all 


     essential  respects identical" (1967, p.144)  He states that the nature of the
     relationship which is considered basic in counseling and psychotherapy are
     identical.  Secondly, Arbuckle says that the process of counseling cannot be
     distinguished from the process of psychotherapy.  Third of all he feels that the
     methods or techniques are identical.  Arbuckle lastly states in the matter of
     goals and or outcomes there may appear to be differences but no distinction is
     possible.
          One major similarity between counseling and psychotherapy are the
     elements which build a person's personality.  Each of these processes deal 
     with attitudes, feelings, interests, goals, self esteem and related behaviors are all
     which are affected through counseling and psychotherapy.

     Summary and Conclusion

          One can see from the material provided  that there are several
     differences between counseling and psychotherapy.  The biggest difference in
     my opinion is the time factor/ focus faced in each of these approaches. 
     Counseling primarily deals with reality situations versus the unconscious past
     focus of psychotherapy.  Secondly counseling has been described as helping
     one to develop competencies in coping with life situations where as
     psychotherapy is a re organization of one's whole personality.  Finally a last 


     distinction is that the counselor deals with life adjustment problems while the
     psychotherapist deals with past unresolved issues from the family of origin.
     While there are many distinguishing differences between counseling and
     psychotherapy, there are some aspects that do spill over into each other.  As
     one can see by the graph provided (see figure. 1.1) there is a section where the
     two approaches cross paths.  One must definitely take a close look at
     counseling and psychotherapy to distinguish whether or not there is a
     difference between the two approaches.  I found this to be a very confusing
     topic at times.  Just when I thought I had completely grasped a concept I would
     run across authors such as Arbuckle who speaks of the fact that one can not
     distinguish counseling from psychotherapy.  Luckily, I researched part of this
     topic using my class notes, to my advantage the lecture on June 15, 1995
     discussed the differences between counseling and psychotherapy.  After reading
     these notes I realized that I was right on track and there is a difference between
     counseling and psychotherapy

                        References
                              Arbuckle,  D. S. (1967).  Counseling and Psychotherapy: An
                              Overview.    
     New York:  McGraw Hill.

     Bettelheim, B. &  Rosenfeld,  A.  (1993).  The Art of the Obvious...Developing
     Insight For Psychotherapy and Everyday Life.    New York:  Knopf.

     Brammer, L .  & Shostrom, E.  (1977).  Theraputic Psychology: Fundamentals
     of Counseling and Psychotherapy Third Edition.  Englewood Cliffs, NJ: 
     Prentice Hall.

     Rogers, C.  (1951).  Client Centered Therapy.  New York:   Houghton Mifflin.

     Shostrom, E.  (1967).  Man the Manipulator.   Nashville, Tennessee: 
     Abingdon Press.



