Psychotherapeutic counseling

Psychotherapeutic counseling is counseling aimed at the prevention and amelioration of mental disorders and of emotional states causing clinical levels of difficulty. Such activity is akin to psychotherapy and often draws on the same models.

Counseling psychologists study and use many of the same interventions and tools as clinical psychologists, including psychotherapy and assessment. Traditionally, counseling psychologists help people with what might be considered normal or moderate psychological problems—such as the feelings of anxiety or sadness resulting from major life changes or events. Many counseling psychologists also receive specialized training in career assessment, group therapy, and relationship counseling, although some counseling psychologists also work with the more serious problems that clinical psychologists are primarily trained for, such as dementia or psychosis.