Individual counseling involves one-on-one work between the client and the therapist and is focused on specific problems, both personal and situational. These goals are traditionally “solvable” and short-term. It is intended as a more brief intervention than its close relative psychotherapy.
Individual Psychotherapy also involves one-on-one work between a client and therapist. It differs from counseling mainly in depth of the work and intent or goal. While counseling is focused on more immediate changes and short-term goals, psychotherapy may be focused on long term growth, understanding of underlying motivations, or self-acceptance. Again they are highly similar though one can usually expect more difficult work, a longer period of time, and great gains. Be aware that the terms are often used interchangeably and the clarification is solely for setting appropriate expectations.
Family therapy can involve any number of interested and invested parties in a family system and a single or team of therapists. Most importantly, attendance is limited to parties who are invested in the positive growth and change of the family system. This style of therapy is again collaborative and focuses on changing the system and its dynamics rather than change of any individuals in that system. This is appropriate when a family system has become ill and its persons and patterns are repeatedly harming each other and the system itself. Family Therapy is one of the most difficult areas in which to work due to competing needs, agendas, and styles of each family member. The most important requirements are investment and safety (an agreement to use the sessions and the discovered material only for positive ends.)
Hypnotherapy is a set of techniques that utilize access to the unconscious mind to facilitate deep and lasting change. It is highly effective at helping clients move from “stuck” states where they already “know” what is best into actions that they were unable to take otherwise. Hypnotherapy is therapeutic intervention for treating areas medically necessary for ones mental health.
Hypnosis is related to hypnotherapy in that is accesses the subconscious. The techniques are also geared toward rapid and sustainable change. The main disctinction is that hypnosis can be used for those changes that are not “medically necessary” in the eyes of the medical/insurance communities. These might include: smoking cessation, weight management, peak performance, self awareness, addiction, creativity, etc. Hypnosis is therefore practiced outside of my counseling license. Further inqueries should be directed to North Austin Hypnosis