FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the difference between a Psychologist, a Counsellor and a Psychotherapist?
This is a question that is asked a lot. The short answer is that sometimes, the differences can be blurry and it is really about the alliance you build with a particular therapist.
Given as you hope to speak to your therapist about matters which are personal to you, the most important thing is that you feel safe and understood.
However, here is some basic information about the training differences between different types of therapist.
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Counsellors usually undertake a training at masters level, but often then undergo a series of other trainings which give them a wide range of skills.
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Psychotherapists usually undertake a training a masters level, in one single therapy model in which they specialise (psychodynamic therapy or CBT for example).
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Psychologists usually undertake training at doctoral level and must show competence in 3 models of therapy.
Because Tanya understands the importance of building the therapy alliance, she offers a 15 minute telephone consultation for free. You can contact Tanya for more details.
What is the difference between a Clinical Psychologist and a Counselling Psychologist?
This is also a question that is asked a lot. Again the short answer these days is often, very little. Both are trained at doctoral level and must show competence in 3 different therapy models.
Traditionally, there are some differences in the philosophy which underpins each training. However there is a lot of overlap between the philosophies of individual counselling and clinical psychologists.
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Historically, clinical psychology was born out of a medical model, which attempts to reduce symptoms. Training is paid for by the NHS and clinical psychology trainees are expected to work across the lifespan.
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Historically, counselling psychology was born out of a humanistic model, which attempts to understand the individual experiences of each person and help them fulfil their full potential.
What does Sonder mean?
The word Sonder has a couple of meanings including:
"n. the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own" Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows
sonder
verb [transitive] /sɔ̃de/
To sound out or to search.
Both seemed relevant to the work that Tanya offers!
What is Psychodynamic Therapy?
There are lots of stereotypes around talking therapies. From classic questions such as 'tell me about your mother' and 'how does that make you feel?' to images of lying on couches talking to a blank face.
In reality this is not how therapy often looks (although you may be asked those above questions from time to time!). Most of the time therapy should look like a dialogue between yourself and your therapist in which your thoughts, feelings and goals are discussed.
Psychodynamic therapy seeks to do this too, the main difference is that this type of therapy is interested in exploring the past. Not to dredge up old memories for the sake of it, but to make meaning of past experiences and discover how they may be manifesting in your current life.
Psychodynamic therapy believes that in processing feelings from the past, you are able to make better decisions in your current life, decisions which are not driven by past feelings about yourself, others and your world.