I suspect that there are some who view counseling somewhat narrowly, based on what they have heard from others or seen depicted on television or in the movies. But the truth is that the field of counseling, as one of the helping or healing arts is very broad.
Yes, deep psychotherapy is certainly one aspect. Especially where there has been significant trauma, intense work is often needed to bring a person to a place of stability. Because the traumatized person will tend to dysregulate when presented with a triggering event, the brain needs to be retrained to current reality. But this is only one type of counseling.
There are acute events that we would label a crisis, such as a significant car accident, an assault or sudden death. These will usually need immediate support, frequently starting with close friends or family. A counselor might be there from the start, but may be called upon later to process out the feelings of loss. These situations can be traumatic, but they are current as opposed to other forms of early or long term trauma. This is the essence of grief counseling.
Then there are chronic issues of anxiety, depression and personality disorders etc., from minor to severe which require the expertise of a therapist. They are often the presenting issues that motivate a client to ask for help.
Another type is what we would simply call “counsel”. This might be a one off session where a person is seeking advice on a current decision. Pastors and others who are experienced and considered wise can be sought after for their input. There might be a need for spiritual or some other clarification.
Spiritual counseling, often done by clergy or other biblically trained laity walks a person through the teachings of their faith and helps a person understand how to live out the spiritual path they have chosen. It is also known as spiritual direction or spiritual coaching.
Preparatory counseling is a process that is often pursued by those who are contemplating engagement or marriage. It might involve therapy, but usually is more about discovering any blind spots or talking through any unexplored areas of the relationship. This is usually a shorter process, but may continue if significant issues are revealed.
Marriage or relationship counseling can be either reparative or strengths-building. Most couples have hard seasons for one reason or another and find having an outside mediator helpful in processing conflicts or difficult decisions. Usually these are presented to us counselors as problems with communication. It is also very common for couples seek counseling when there has been a trust break in a relationship that needs repairing.
Supportive psychotherapy can be a longer term counseling relationship. This might be where someone has processed through deeper issues and now needs ongoing support to stay on track and directed forward. This might be better described as coaching or mentoring, because it is growth focused and instructive. But it is still a type of counseling.
The one closest to my heart has often been labeled as “re-parenting”, but sometimes is actually better described as substitute parenting because of conditions experienced during childhood years. Parents might have been physically or emotionally missing, or abusive or neglectful. Whatever form of abandonment was present, it left a hole in the person’s upbringing. I consider it especially endearing and a great privilege to step into the role of a dad figure in someone's life.
Underneath my labels sit a plethora of therapeutic approaches and modalities which are the tools of the profession. I am sure that other counselors and therapists could add to my list, but these are the ones that have occupied most of the counseling hours in our practice at The Relationship Center.
