Counselling

Some people prefer to use the terms counselling and counsellor instead of psychotherapy or psychotherapist, perhaps believing that counselling has less stigma attached to it. Other people use the terms interchangeably, or suggest that counselling is more about dealing with immediate, everyday problems rather than looking at issues that arose in earlier times (such as childhood traumas).

There are many types of counselling on offer, including telephone counselling, email counselling, marriage counselling, grief counselling, and many more. These counselling services offer a wide range of areas including Emotional conflict, Conflict resolution, Dispute resolution, Creative problem solving, Mediation, Reconciliation, Dialogue, Family therapy, Nonverbal communication, Non-violent communication, Stress management, and Self-help.

While Roberto Assagioli, the founder of Psychosynthesis stressed that Psychosynthesis is not psychotherapy, it certainly has applications where counselling techniques are used. This includes interpersonal applications (such as marriage, couples, etc.) and social applications (such as social relations within groups and between groups). However, for most people Psychosynthesis is focussed on personal integration and actualization - realization of one’s own potentialities.

Many professional Psychosynthesists prefer to refer to themselves as guides rather than counsellors or psychotherapists. The term guide gives a good indication of the role of the professional when dealing with clients. Rather than giving advice and acting as an authority a Psychosynthesis guide offers clients guidance, via various techniques, to allow the client to gain a better understanding of their problems and issues and works with them to develop the skills necessary to overcome these obstacles and gain a more satisfying way of life.