Differing Terms

Psychology is full of jargon and different terms. So, what’s the difference between counselling, psychotherapy and therapy? Often these terms are used interchangeably but as a general rule of thumb counselling is short-term and present-orientated while psychotherapy is longer-term and focuses more on past experiences. Therapy is the overarching term for both counselling and psychotherapy.

Differing Titles

A number of different professionals offer counselling. You might come across psychiatrists, clinical or counselling psychologists, mental health counsellors, marriage and family therapists or clinical social workers. All of these can be helpful and the main distinction you need to be aware of is that only psychiatrists are qualified to advise on medication.

When looking for a therapist, make sure you check that they have a graduate degree in counseling, psychology, social work, marriage and family therapy or another related field of study.

There are people who call themselves “counsellors” or “therapists” because they have taken a short course or have learned a specific therapeutic approach. However, humans are complicated which is why psychology is such a large and varied field. It takes years of training and experience to be an effective therapist. Without the proper training there is a risk of misdiagnosis and mistreatment, which can cause real harm to you, the client.

Life Coaching

Life coaching is a fast-emerging field, particularly in Vietnam. Therapists and life coaches are different types of helping professionals.

Therapists focus on treating mental health conditions, such as mood disorders or anxiety disorders, and help people work through issues from their past, including trauma.

Life coaches focus on identifying what you wish to achieve in the present and future, identify manageable goals and set tasks to achieve these goals to give you greater fulfillment in your life. As with any helping professional, if you're thinking of working with a life coach, you should make sure you know what training they have undertaken, if they are using evidenced-based techniques for helping you and what ethical code they adhere to.

Ethical Guidelines

While Vietnam does not yet have a governing ethical body, many therapists here are registered to one in another country. I am a registered member of The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and The Hong Kong Professional Counselling Association. These organisations are vital for providing ethical guidelines for your counsellor to follow. Ethical guidelines are there to make sure that you are treated safely and with respect as a client.

Theoretical Orientation

There are lots of different styles of therapy and each have a different theory about how best to help people. I suggest you do some research on your therapist’s core theories – are they evidenced-based? - meaning, have they been scientifically proven to be helpful to people?

Ask yourself: ‘Does my therapist have a clear idea what my issues are?’, ‘Have they clearly explained how they plan to treat me?’ and ‘Are they checking in regularly with me to make sure we are on the same page?’

Therapist’s Experience

Not every therapist can work with every issue. Make sure your therapist has experiencing and training in the particular issue that you’re looking to work on.

Social Justice

People who advocate for social justice believe all members of society should have equitable rights and access to opportunities. If one or more of your identities is marginalised (or not), then working with a therapist who has knowledge of their own intersectionality of identity and systems of oppression is important.

Therapist Fit

Time and again, studies have shown that it’s the relationship you have with your therapist, rather than their specific modality, that brings about change. Check in with yourself as you sit with your therapist - do you feel safe, respected and understood?