Learn the Different Types of Counseling and Counselors

There are many different types of counseling, and you need to find the right type of counseling that can help you meet your goals.

Cognitive behavioral counseling, for example, helps you identify negative thought patterns and helps you to replace them with more constructive ones. ^[1]

This type of counseling helps you identify unhealthy behaviors and helps you replace them with more healthy ones. It’s extremely helpful for people who have depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and personality disorders.

When people think about counseling, they often think of counseling, but counseling is a broad term for a number of different services.

Types of behavioral therapy include cognitive-behavioral counseling (CBT), a therapeutic approach focusing on the link between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

CBT is often used to treat mental health issues, although it can be used for a wide range of other challenging situations, including substance abuse issue. ^[2]

Here Are the Different Types of Counselings

Psychodynamic

Psychodynamic counseling is a type of psychotherapy that aims to interpret the client’s behaviors, emotions, and thinking patterns. Psychodynamic counseling does not focus on the past but rather on the present and how the past influences the present. The client is not analyzed. Instead, counselor and client work together to identify how past events influence the client’s behavior, thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, and (ultimately) how the client relates to others. The counselor will often ask the client questions about their family history or childhood and how they currently feel about themselves. The counselor will use this information to help the client uncover the underlying motives for their behavior.

Psychodynamic counseling is sometimes referred to as ‘talk therapy’ and sees patients discussing serious personal issues and past traumatic experiences. These are often explored in detail to identify unconscious motivations and patterns. Psychodynamic counseling focuses on the roots of problems and works towards correcting these.

Behavioral

Behavioral counseling is a type of counseling that focuses on behavior modification. The theory behind behavioral counseling is that knowing why an individual behaves in a certain way can help change behavior. Behavioral counseling helps individuals identify their negative thoughts or feelings and offers alternatives.

While behavioural therapy is often recommended for individuals dealing with types of mental illnesses like depression, it can also be used to help handle life’s challenges. Behavioral counseling works to help individuals learn alternative coping skills, as well as have access to a support network. ^[3]

Behavioral counseling combines psychological, cognitive, and therapeutic methods designed to address an individual’s thoughts, actions, and behaviors. This counseling aims to help us understand behaviors and how we can change them for the better. Behavioral counseling is short-term, goal-oriented, and aimed at helping the client change behaviors in targeted areas.

Faith-Based Counseling

Faith-based counseling is where the client is encouraged to look to their religious belief system. Faith-based counseling, also known as religious counseling, is practiced by counselors who hold beliefs about and adhere to a specific religious tradition or belief system. Faith-based counseling emphasizes the understanding that clients may experience psychological distress due to problems inherent in their religious beliefs. You can learn more about faith-based counseling from faithful counseling reviews.

Humanistic

Humanistic counseling is a method of counseling that emphasizes the client’s values and strengths as a central component of counseling. While traditional counseling methods focus on achieving specific goals, humanistic counseling focuses on helping clients find meaning in their lives. Humanistic counselors value their clients’ unique personalities and perspectives and believe that clients are experts in their own lives and possess a sense of meaning.

Cognitive

Cognitive counseling is a therapy designed to help people deal with depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. As psychology researcher, Dr. Aaron T. Beck once said, “only an individual with a brain problem can know about a brain problem.” Cognitive counseling is a specific branch of psychotherapy that addresses how you think or, more specifically, how you perceive or interpret your thoughts and feelings.

Constructionist

Its foundation rests on the idea that individuals learn through experience and that learning consists of constructing cognitive and behavioral patterns. From a constructionist perspective, the counselor’s role is to observe as clients construct new behaviors and offer feedback intended to help clients build on their successes but avoid pitfalls or mistakes.

Systemic

Systemic counseling helps clients discover and overcome dysfunctional family patterns. For example, many marriages fail because a couple’s dysfunctional patterns go back several generations. Systemic counseling helps identify the patterns of dysfunction, identify the origins of conflicts, and develop strategies to make lasting changes. Understanding how systemic counseling works may help to understand the concept of considering the whole system when treating clients.

Here Are the Different Types of Counselors:

Behavior Disorder Counselors

Behavior disorder counselors specialize in helping those with mental and behavioral issues. These professionals work with clients of all ages and backgrounds. The reasons for choosing a career as a behavioral disorder counselor are many; many enjoy helping others and using their skills to help clients overcome their issues.

Constructionist Counselors

Constructionist counselors use a collaborative approach to help clients achieve their goals. They combine cognitive behavioral therapy with motivational interviewing, solution-focused therapy, and solution-focused brief therapy to help clients find their strengths and develop action plans.

Relationship Counsellor

Marriage and family therapists are mental health professionals trained to work with couples and families. They know how to resolve conflicts and transform a couple’s relationship from troubled to healthy.

Social Workers

School and Child Counselors work in school districts, private schools, colleges, and universities. They help students and teachers with academic and behavioral issues and provide counseling services for mental and emotional health, personal and family problems, or adjustment to major life changes. They also work to develop and assist with social-emotional learning programs and school-based violence prevention programs.

Mental Health Counselors

Mental health counselors are professionals who help their patients cope with depression, anxiety, mental illness, and other mental conditions. They work with patients to address their behavior and make appropriate changes. They may also provide psychotherapy, which is a process by which a patient learns to manage their symptoms. A mental health counselor can also provide patient education, which refers to providing patients with information about their particular mental health condition and how it can be treated.

Final Verdict

In summary, counseling is an individualized approach that can effectively address a range of issues. Depending on your specific needs, trained professionals will provide emotional support and practical strategies.

3 Sources

We review published medical research in respected scientific journals to arrive at our conclusions about a product or health topic. This ensures the highest standard of scientific accuracy.

[1] What is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)?: https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/patients-and-families/cognitive-behavioral
[2] McHugh RK, Hearon BA, Otto MW. Cognitive behavioral therapy for substance use disorders. Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2010;33(3):511-525. doi:10.1016/j.psc.2010.04.012
[3] Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21208-cognitive-behavioral-therapy-cbt

Colin Radcliffe

Colin Radcliffe is the creator of DE-press-ON, a patient voice for ORCHA, and an ambassador for World Health Innovation Summit. Colin i Read Full Bio