What are the Different Counselling Approaches?

Psychodynamic Approach:

The Psychodynamic approach focusses on working with unconscious thoughts and perceptions. It seeks to help us understand how early childhood experiences shape our personalities and attachment styles. Therapies include...

~ Analytical Therapy (Jungian Therapy)

~ Psychoanalysis

~ Psychodynamic Therapy

~ Psychotherapy

Humanistic-Existential Approach:

The Humanistic-Existential approach focusses on self-development, growth and responsibilities. It seeks to help us recognise our unique strengths, creativity, and choices in the ‘here and now’. Therapies include...

~ Existential Therapy

~ Gestalt Therapy

~ Person Centered Therapy (Client Centered Therapy)

~ Transactional Analysis (TA)

Cognitive-Behavioral Approach:

The Cognitive-Behavioral approach focusses on the ways we think, behave and react, and how these influence each other. It seeks to help us change (or recondition) our thoughts or behaviours to overcome specific problems. Therapies include…

~ Behavioural Therapy

~ Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT)

~ Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

~ Cognitive Therapy

Creative Approach:

The Creative approach focuses on the use of the creative arts such as art, dance, drama and music. It seeks to help us connect with feelings and/or release emotions in a safe environment. Therapies include...

~ Art Therapy

~ Creative Work

~ Drama Therapy

~ Music Therapy 

Other Approaches:

Counselling is continually evolving and some other approaches that counsellors may work with include…

~ Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)

Focusses on acupressure type techniques to enhance emotional health.

~ Eye Movement Disensitisation & Reprocessing (EMDR)

Focusses on processing trauma using specific and specialist sensory input techniques.

~ Mindfulness

Focusses on improving mental well-being by learning how to be fully present with, and aware of, our bodies,

our thoughts, our feelings and our surroundings.

~ Neuro Linguistic Programming

Focusses on using our primary senses to change how our brain is programmed to receive and respond to external

stimuli.  

~ Neuroscience

Focusses on how the nervous system develops and works, and explores the brain and its impact on behaviour and

cognitive functions. It is not a counselling approach, but its findings are of great interest to many counsellors and can

be useful in some client work. 

~ Transpersonal Therapy

Focusses on spirituality, human potential and heightened consciousness.