Relationship Counselor Vs. Therapist: What’s The Difference?

Relationship counselors and therapists tend to be similar, but there can be some differences between them. Counselors often focus on finding solutions to specific problems within the relationship, while therapists typically dig deeper to identify the root of the issue in an attempt to resolve it. In many cases, therapists and counselors simply have different approaches to helping clients with the same types of problems. If your relationship would benefit from working with a licensed mental health professional, you can find a good relationship counselor or therapist in your local area or online.

Counselor vs. therapist

In most cases, you'll find that the terminology for counselors and therapists is used interchangeably. However, counselors tend to treat their patients more on the individual level, while therapists tend to operate based on clients' interactions with group or relationship dynamics.

Counselors may treat the following issues:

• Marital problems
• Anger issues
• Self-esteem
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Grief and loss
• Behavioral issues
• Substance use disorders and addiction

If you are struggling with substance use, contact the SAMHSA National Helpline at (800) 662-4357 to receive support and resources. Support is available 24/7.

Therapists may provide the following services:

• Couples’ therapy/marriage and family counseling
• Group therapy (adults and children)
• Therapy for struggling teens
• Family therapy

Counselors and therapists can have differences in offered services, and both these professions may serve as indicators of education. Consider the similarities and differences between a therapist and a counselor. The counselor usually provides short-term treatment, whereas the therapist usually provides long-term care.

Each state usually has a different classification, but in general, therapists and counselors have a master's degree. That isn't necessarily to say that both professions may have more or less than the degree requirements in the given field, as it can be quite varied and vast.

The most crucial distinction between a counselor and a therapist is normally their method of practice.

Counselors typically use a process to help a patient cope with the mental and emotional stressors in their lives. A counselor often finds solutions to problems through a more methodical process, adjusting improper behavior into healthier responses. The intention is normally to focus on your ability to change on a more individual level.

Therapy generally uses your feelings, moods, and behaviors to discover more about your ways of thinking. The intention can be to find some meaning behind the initial impressions of negative feedback. Therapy is often less focused on correcting your behaviors and more focused on how you interact with the dynamics of a social group.

What is relationship counseling?

Life stressors can affect both your mental health and your relationship quality.

Relationship counseling can help you manage stressors, communicate more effectively, and look more objectively at unhealthy relationship patterns.

Counseling is generally professional help that can aid you on an individual level. Individualized challenges often need guidance to look beyond negative or routine thinking about your relationship or partner. 

With relationship counseling, you may adjust yourself to allow healthier behaviors for a healthier relationship. Being in a relationship can have us guessing who’s correct. It may require the intervention of a professional trained in counseling to point out destructive behaviors for us to change. A professionally trained opinion can serve as reliable guidance for any problems a relationship may have.

A relationship counselor's job is usually to focus on more effective communication between both parties. A counselor frequently serves as a guide for communication, and their actions may come in the form of solidified goals for you to follow. But these goals are usually what you make for yourself, using your efforts to improve.

This type of counseling can be relatively common among couples, with marriage counseling generally being the most common type of relationship counseling. Like relationship counseling, relationship therapy also tends to focus on effective communication, but with a different process of curating growth.

What is relationship therapy?

Much like relationship counseling, each session can cultivate effective communication between you and your partner. This can allow for a more fluid interaction that doesn't fall under the more routine behaviors each conversation may have.

In couple’s therapy, the intent is usually to understand your role and dynamics that you've built with another person, but it can also seek improvements to yourself as an individual. 

Being deeply ingrained in another person's life can mix behaviors without our knowing. Identifying such causes could result in possible solutions. Being aware of troubling behaviors can be the initial awareness that allows change. The role of a therapist is usually to identify these root causes.

Find an online relationship therapist

If traditional in-office therapy isn’t a convenient choice for you and your partner, online therapy can be another valid option. It can empower you to get the professional help you deserve from the comfort of your home at a time that works for you and your partner. In many cases, it can also be more affordable than in-person therapy.

In a recent study, the participants initially had doubts about the efficacy of online therapy. However, after treatment, they reported the experience was positive and beneficial, and they were able to form strong therapeutic alliances with their therapists through their virtual sessions.