Therapy: CBT, NLP & Counselling – What’s the Difference?

talking therapy

Sometimes we feel that our lives are in a problematic state. We are feeling down, stressed, and unsure of what to do. The worst case is that many people don’t know the primary cause.

People find support from professionals to overcome their negative emotions and turn them into an opportunity to become positive.

If you are looking for professional assistance, you must first decide which therapy suits you.

There are three approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), and Counselling.

The Differences Between CBT, NLP, and Counselling

Stress is a severe mental state. We need to find some ways to relieve stress from our lives to have a happy life.

However, there are times when we can’t handle it on our own, so we rely on experts.

These professionals will either provide you with CBT, NLP, or Counselling.

Which one is ideal for you? Here are the differences:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

The CBT was first introduced in the 1950s and has gained popularity since then.

It is a therapy where experts help people understand how their thoughts trigger their behavior and feelings towards a situation or something.

This therapeutic approach is made for people who want their patterns of thoughts reprogrammed.

Many rules when we were kids were no longer valid when we grew up. These things need to be updated, which is the same thing when we reprogram our thinking.

For example, you may have learned that you should avoid things that could affect your family’s name because your parents told you so. 

However, doing the same thing in your work may not be the best for your daily life.

Sometimes, you may need to adjust what you believe in, especially in cases related to your career and other life factors.

The main goal of CBT is to reprogram irrational thoughts and beliefs, especially those already outdated. 

Experts present the people with the truth to help them understand and adjust what they believe in.

CBT helps change the behavior and reprogram your thinking, changing your brain’s structure over time.

Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)

NLP is a slightly younger therapeutic approach. It was first used in the 1970s and became popular in treating anxiety and stress.

Unlike CBT, NLP focuses more on changing one’s unconscious level. This will help to adjust your thinking and become automatic.

Undergoing Neuro-Linguistic Programming will help you remember to behave or think differently faster as you’ll do it unconsciously once you get accustomed to it.

The best part of the NLP is that it doesn’t require the person to openly share or work on problems for the therapy to be successful. 

This approach is suitable for people who prefer to keep some of their information private.

The specialist should be able to help as long as enough information is shared.

NLP offers various techniques that are based on the study of human excellence. Some methods could be effective for specific cases and someone’s preference.

therapy counseling

The sessions are relatively shorter than CBT, which many people prefer because of their busy schedules, and at the same time, people don’t need to thoroughly discuss their problems or what they are experiencing. 

NLP focuses on fixing the unconscious problem effectively.

Counseling

Counseling is probably the most common for people. It has been used for many years.

It gives the people a chance to speak their minds and what they feel. It could be the problems they currently face or some issues that give them negative feelings.

The counselors are avid listeners as they understand and reflect on your mental and emotional state. 

They will help you see clarity in your problem and see more choices or ways of addressing and dealing with the issue.

This therapeutic approach is ideal for people who want to verbalize their thoughts and feelings. The counselors will let the negative emotions out to help you unload all the things that give you stress.

Keep in mind that counselors don’t offer solutions to the problem. Instead, they will guide you in finding the answer yourself. 

As a result, you will be able to gain new perspectives or options on the issue.

In order to make sure that your feelings are heard, you have to be very vocal about them. It is important that you tell them what you feel during your sessions, so do not be afraid to do so.

You may feel uneasy initially, but your counselor will guide you until you feel more comfortable and share openly.

The Bottomline

These effective therapeutic approaches can help you improve your way of life. They will also assist you in releasing your stress and anxiety.

However, one important key is choosing the right therapist for you.

When you have the ideal therapy done by the right professional, you’ll see a massive improvement in your life as your stress and anxiety will be dealt with.