Psychotherapy and counselling overlap considerably, and the distinction between them is not always clear-cut. In practice, what matters most is whether the therapist is appropriately trained, whether the approach suits your needs, and whether you can work well together.

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Psychotherapy can help with emotional, behavioural and relationship difficulties, as well as stress, recurring patterns and other problems that may not involve a diagnosed mental illness.

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There are many different therapeutic approaches. Two influential traditions are cognitive-behavioural and psychodynamic therapies. CBT tends to focus on present difficulties and practical change, often using structured exercises between sessions. Psychodynamic approaches place more emphasis on recurring emotional patterns, earlier experiences and unconscious processes.

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Neither approach is right for everyone. The most suitable therapy depends on the problem, your goals and preferences, the available evidence, and the therapist’s training and experience.

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My own approach is based primarily on Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT), one of the original cognitive-behavioural therapies. REBT is explained in more detail in the following section.