What is Psychotherapy and Counselling?
If you’ve been thinking about talking to someone for support, whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck, anxious, or just not quite yourself, you might have come across the terms psychotherapy and counselling. But what do they actually mean? Are they the same thing? And how are they different from coaching?
This article is a safe, gentle introduction to psychotherapy and counselling, designed for anyone who’s curious about starting therapy, or simply wants to understand it better.
What Is Psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy (often just called "therapy") is a professional, evidence-based approach to helping people improve their mental and emotional wellbeing. It involves talking with a trained therapist who supports you in exploring your thoughts, emotions, behaviours, and past experiences in a safe, non-judgmental space.
Psychotherapy is often used to treat a range of mental health concerns, such as:
Anxiety
Depression
Trauma and PTSD
Relationship issues
Low self-esteem
Grief and loss
Stress and burnout
Life transitions
Therapists may draw from a variety of therapeutic approaches, such as:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Psychodynamic Therapy
Humanistic Therapy
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
Mindfulness-based approaches
Each approach has its own methods, but they all share a common goal: helping you understand yourself better and create meaningful change.
What Is Counselling?
Counselling is very similar to psychotherapy and the two terms are often used interchangeably, especially in the UK, Australia, and Canada. In many cases, both counsellors and psychotherapists offer similar types of support and work with similar issues.
However, some people use the term counselling to describe shorter-term, solution-focused support that helps you cope with specific life challenges. This might include:
A breakup or divorce
Stress at work
Family conflict
Adjusting to a new stage in life
Counselling tends to focus more on the present and practical tools for coping, while psychotherapy might explore deeper patterns rooted in the past. But again, the distinction often depends on the therapist’s training and how they work.
How Is Therapy Different from Coaching?
This is a common question, and an important one.
Coaching focuses on helping you set and achieve specific goals, often related to career, productivity, or personal development. Coaches typically work with clients who are functioning well in daily life but want to reach a new level of success or clarity.
If you're dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, or feeling overwhelmed by life, therapy is likely the better starting point. If you're already stable but want to grow, build habits, or achieve goals, coaching may be a great complement to therapy, but not a replacement.
Is Psychotherapy Right for Me?
You don’t need to be in crisis to benefit from therapy. Many people start therapy simply because they want:
A safe space to talk about things they can’t share elsewhere
To better understand their emotions or behaviours
Support in navigating a transition or relationship
To heal from past wounds they’ve carried for too long
If you’ve ever found yourself thinking:
“Why do I feel this way?”
“I just don’t feel like myself anymore.”
“I wish I could stop overthinking everything.”
“I don’t want to burden my friends with this.”
…therapy might be a supportive next step.
Final Thoughts: Therapy Is a Brave First Step
Whether you call it psychotherapy or counselling, reaching out for support takes courage. Therapy isn’t about having something “wrong” with you — it’s about caring enough to want better for yourself.
If you're feeling unsure or nervous, that's totally normal. You're not alone, and there is support available that can truly make a difference.
Click here to contact Ryan and begin your psychotherapy and counselling journey.
In-person Psychotherapy and Counselling available in Newmarket or Vaughan. Online Psychotherapy and Counselling available across Ontario - Newmarket, Vaughan Aurora, Richmondhill, Barrie, Toronto, and beyond.
