You'll notice this practice is called "Torbay Psychotherapy," but you might also see the words "counselling" and "psychotherapy" used interchangeably across the site. If you've wondered whether there's a real difference — or which one you actually need — here's a straightforward answer.
In practice, there's a lot of overlap
For most people looking for support, the distinction matters far less than it might seem. Both counselling and psychotherapy involve talking, in confidence, with a trained professional, about whatever is troubling you. Many practitioners — including here — are trained and qualified to offer both, and the day-to-day experience of a session is often very similar regardless of which word is used.
Where the words come from
Historically, "counselling" has often been associated with shorter-term, more specific support — working through a particular issue, life event, or difficult patch. "Psychotherapy" has sometimes been used to describe longer-term, deeper exploratory work. In reality, this line has blurred considerably, and how long you continue is led by what you need, not by which word appears on the practice's sign.
What actually matters more than the label
Far more important than the terminology is the approach a practitioner uses, and whether it's a good fit for you. This practice uses a person-centred approach — a gentle, non-directive way of working developed by Carl Rogers, built on the belief that you already hold the capacity to work through what you're facing, given the right supportive relationship. It's also worth checking a practitioner is registered with a recognised professional body — here, that's BACP and NCPS — since that's a much stronger indicator of quality and accountability than the specific word "counselling" or "psychotherapy" on its own.
So which do you need?
Honestly, you don't need to work that out in advance. If something is troubling you and you'd like to talk it through with someone qualified, confidential, and non-judgemental, that's the starting point — not which label technically applies.
If you're still not sure where to start, a free 30-minute consultation is a low-pressure way to talk it through with no obligation to continue, or you can read more about fees and how sessions work.