How can Counselling or Psychotherapy help?

People from all walks of life find that counselling and psychotherapy can be helpful at different times in their lives, and for a wide range of issues or deeper concerns, and also to help get the most from life.

Sometimes just a few sessions are needed to get back on track, though counselling and psychotherapy are not quick fixes and any worthwhile change needs time to happen. The process has its own in-built rhythm and needs to unfold at its own pace.

People often want different things from counselling or psychotherapy, such as:

Lightening the load and getting support

You could find that simply talking about what is troubling you helps lighten your load. Or you might value the support of a counsellor through stressful periods in your life or during a crisis or times of loss.

Tackling longer-term issues

You may decide to look at familiar yet unwanted issues in your life and relationships or to explore underlying feelings that are of concern, such as a lack of self esteem, feelings of inner emptiness or long-term anxiety.

Navigating periods of growth and transition

Certain times of life bring their own changes: from adolescence to adulthood, families growing up, facing mid-life challenges or experiencing change, loss and bereavement.

Exploring wider life issues - values, beliefs, meanings, spiritual journeys and life goals

You may want a safe place to find out 'who I really am' and 'what do I really want from life'. Maybe you are feeling there must be more to life than just existing. Or perhaps life has somehow lost the meaning it once held for you and things seem flat or empty.

About Jacky Walker

I have a particular interest in working with

stress, burnout and work-life balance (with a special emphasis on the particular needs of high achieving professionals)
quality of life issues (including mid-life crisis, life goals and spiritual values)
personal / professional development.

The combination of skills I offer is fairly unique in Norfolk, and I am probably the leading practitioner locally on stress, burnout and work-life balance.

More about Jacky Walker Arrange an initial session

Call now: 07796 904473

Counselling or Psychotherapy - what's the difference?

There are no agreed definitions about how counselling is different to psychotherapy, as they do have many similarities and can both be helpful with a wide range of issues.

Having trained in both, my view is that a psychotherapy training covers deeper ground, as it is longer (5 years against 3 years), requires substantial personal therapy throughout training, considers the more serious disruptions to a person's development, and familiarises the psychotherapist with the mental health services through a psychiatric placement.

The most important thing though is to find a therapist who you feel comfortable with and who you feel is able to understand things from your perspective.

How professional bodies describe Counselling and Psychotherapy

A useful description of counselling and psychotherapy from BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy).

A description of psychotherapy from the NHS perspective.

The difference between the various talking therapies including psychiatry, psychology, psychotherapy and counselling, an overview by the UKCP (UK Council for Psychotherapy).

Statutory Regulation of Counselling and Psychotherapy

At present, counsellors and psychotherapists voluntarily register with a professional association in order to practice. Professional bodies include:

There are plans to introduce Statutory Registration for counsellors and psychotherapists, possibly from 2010 or 2011. Although details are not yet finalised, after this date it will be illegal for someone to call themselves a counsellor or psychotherapist unless they are registered with the Health Professions Council. See the BACP website for up-to-date information on Statutory Registration.