Looking after your mental wellbeing is just as important as taking care of your physical health. But with so many types of mental health services and support available, it can be difficult to know which option is right for you. Counselling, therapy, psychotherapy, psychiatry, and other supports all play unique roles. This guide will help you understand the differences, weigh your options, and choose the support that fits your needs best.
Counselling
Counselling is often the first step people take. It’s usually short-term and focuses on specific life challenges—things like stress, grief, relationship struggles, or work difficulties. A counsellor provides a safe, supportive space to talk things through and helps you find practical coping strategies. If you’re facing a clear, current issue, counselling might be the best fit.
Therapy
“Therapy” is a broad term and can cover many approaches. It often goes deeper than counselling and can be either short- or long-term. Therapists work with you to explore patterns in your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours, often using structured methods like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) or Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). If you’re looking to understand yourself better or tackle ongoing issues, therapy could be right for you.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a longer, more intensive process led by a trained psychotherapist. It’s designed to help with deeper or long-standing issues such as trauma, depression, anxiety disorders, or personality difficulties. Psychotherapy explores the root causes of emotional struggles and helps you reshape how you think and feel over time. If you want lasting change and are ready for a bigger commitment, psychotherapy may be the way to go.
Psychiatry
Psychiatry is medical support for mental health, provided by doctors who specialise in this area. Psychiatrists can diagnose mental health conditions and prescribe medication such as antidepressants, mood stabilisers, or antipsychotics. This form of support is especially helpful for severe or complex conditions like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. Some psychiatrists also provide talk therapy alongside medical treatment.
Other Types of Mental Health Support
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Support groups: A chance to share experiences and coping strategies with people going through similar challenges.
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Life coaching: Focused on goal-setting and motivation, usually not for clinical mental health conditions.
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Online support: Apps, forums, or virtual therapy sessions that make support more flexible and accessible.
Quick Comparison: What Treatments Each Provides
Here’s a simple cheat sheet to see at a glance what each type of support typically involves:
Counsellor
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Short-term talk sessions (6–12 weeks)
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Stress, grief, relationships, work issues
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Practical coping strategies and problem-solving
Therapist
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Short- or long-term talk therapy
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Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
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Humanistic or person-centred therapy
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Works on thought and behaviour patterns
- IEMT (Integral Eye Movement Therapy)
Psychotherapist
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Long-term, deeper treatment
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Psychoanalysis or psychodynamic therapy
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Trauma-focused therapy, schema therapy
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Focuses on root causes and emotional development
Psychiatrist
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Diagnosis of mental health conditions
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Prescribes medication (antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilisers)
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Manages severe or complex mental illnesses
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May combine medication with therapy
Other Supports
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Support groups: Peer-led, shared experiences
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Coaching: Goal-setting and personal growth
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Online therapy/support: Apps, forums, video sessions
How to Choose the Right Support for You
To decide which type of mental health support fits you best, ask yourself:
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Do I need short-term help for a specific problem, or long-term support for deeper issues?
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Am I looking for practical coping tools, or do I want to explore the underlying causes of my feelings?
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Could I benefit from medication alongside therapy?
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Do I prefer one-on-one support, or would a group environment suit me better?
Final Thoughts
The most important step is recognising that you want support, the mindset of mental health, everything after that is about finding the right fit. Some people find counselling or therapy is enough, while others need psychotherapy, psychiatry, or a mix of options. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Your needs may also change over time, and that’s okay. Taking that first step toward help is a powerful move toward feeling better.
