Given this variety it is difficult to provide a consistent outline of how counsellors or therapists may approach treatment. However, in the main it is likely that counsellors recognised by the British Association of Counselling will used a client centred approach to create a safe relationship from which a client can explore their own difficulties. Psychotherapists may vary their approach as the term can cover a number of methods. For psychotherapists involved in psychoanalytical techniques there aim is often to allow space for clients to uncover their early responses to family figures and difficulities in early development. Hypnotherapists will usually induce a hypnotic state in their client, using this state to implant ideas designed to alleviate their particular problem.
All clinical psychologists have in common a first degree in psychology.
After this, a psychologist then specialises in a particular area e.g. occupational or clinical, which requires various forms of work experience and post-graduate study. For example, a clinical psychologist will usually have completed a psychology degree, followed by work experience and post-graduate training in clinical psychology. Until 1995, post-graduate training was either a MSc or a Doctorate. Below is a comparison of different professionals, and it is clear that there is often great overlap between the different groups. Please bear in mind that we have given a very broad description of each professional group and so it unlikely to reflect many of the activities different individuals engage in.