Psychotherapy is a holistic process that responds to all parts of a person, particularly the unwanted parts that we believe need “fixing”. In becoming aware of these self-judgments we can become fully whole. Psychotherapy is dynamic, focussed on the process and creating change. It aims to improve self-understanding and long-standing behaviour patterns that get in the way of life. Psychotherapy is equally effective with children and adults, but with children the focus is on the language of play.

Social work, on the other hand, is about the person in place, including the client as part of a family, a system, a culture. We look at all the impacts on a person’s life, and where change can occur. There is a focus on listening to the person, working at their pace, and finding strategies to make improvements. Again, there is a dynamic relationship between the client and the therapist, with the client being at the centre. With children, the focus of work is also on play as a communication tool. There is also the option of claiming a rebate through Medicare, which makes social work counselling more accessible to those with budget restrictions.

In all types of counselling, you should be in control of how things progress. Most of us are very happy to negotiate on the strategies used, and the focus of work. I personally prefer to focus on the future, and on how to make sense of the world now. Some counsellors find it beneficial to focus on past events, as the re-telling of painful stories can be healing.