These terms are often correctly used interchangeably, but there can be significant differences. In most cases, when the word counseling is used in conjunction with addressing relationship issues, and when specifically identified as within marriage, child, and/or family dynamics, the States of California and Hawaii require the individual offering such services to be a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT).
Mental health practitioners also include Clinical Social Workers, Psychologists, and Psychiatrists. Practitioners holding these licenses may or may not offer services provided by a Marriage and Family Therapist; and in some instances, provide services that a MFT does not provide. As a consumer, you should ask the person whose treatment you are considering about their education, training, licensure, and experience, as well as how they might be potentially beneficial in your particular case. Clinical expertise and effective treatment are not determined by titles or licenses. There are excellent, mediocre, and poor practitioners within all forms of licensure and practice.
In addition to the use of the term, "therapist," by mental health practitioners, this title is also used by the providers of many personal and professional services, such as massage therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech therapists, etc. When psychotherapist is used, it is intended to denote a licensed mental health practitioner. Some services offer "counseling" and/or "therapy," without formal education, training or licensure; hence, it is important to ask questions of anyone whose services you are considering. Obtaining a referral from a friend, family member, or from a professional who refers to mental health practitioners usually results in more optimum choices than responding to traditional advertising (including the Internet).
How does therapy help?
Naturally, results vary in accordance with the presenting issue(s), the client/patient, and
the therapist. There are literally hundreds of orientations and styles of psychotherapy.
The most commonly practiced approaches serve to assist you in developing insight into your
thought and feeling process, seeking to provide you with an objective perspective from which
you may decide upon some form of attitudinal, behavioral, and or emotional change(s).
The process of therapy is definitely a collaborative effort between you and your therapist,
both persons working toward the common goal related to your welfare, as you define and
understand it. People who express the most satisfaction with therapy have usually identified
a goal (or goals) at the onset of treatment (in some cases, with the assistance of the
therapist) -- with an identifiable means of establishing that progress has
been made.
What is meant by the mind-body connection?
Current scientific research provides confirmation of the profound connection between mind
and body. A simplified explanation: A person who learns that they have a serious illness
might become depressed as a result of this knowledge. Similarly, a person who is depressed
(for a reason unrelated to physical illness) becomes more vulnerable to numerous bodily
diseases by remaining depressed.
Our thoughts and emotions can and do play a central role in many aspects of our physical
health, particularly when considering human disease that is affected by the functioning
of the autoimmune system. The thoughts and feelings that accompany many psychological
disorders often provide a trigger effect that initiates a stress response within the body,
commonly referred to as the flight, fight, or freeze response.
This stress response prompts potentially toxic changes in: blood chemistry; brain chemistry;
central nervous system functioning; heart rate; blood pressure; gastrointestinal functioning;
and numerous other aspects of organic functioning. Arthritis, cancer, heart disease, and
numerous gastrointestinal disorders are but a few examples of physical health problems that
can result from, or be exacerbated by, untreated psychological issues.
Likewise, awareness of the mind-body connection can provide the first step toward
improving the quality of life. People can learn how to manage their attitudes, beliefs,
feelings, thoughts, moods, worries -- and related responses -- in such a fashion as to
enhance physical health. This can lead to numerous benefits, including:
