The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind --William James, Therapist
Different services available under the umbrella of therapy and counseling :
Individual Therapy or Counseling
Many people come to therapy alone to address their thoughts and feelings. The goal is to reduce the negative feelings and increase a sense of well being. Even those who have problems with their primary relationships can improve their relationships by attending individual therapy. By working individually someone can talk about sensitive issues or feelings they might feel too uncomfortable sharing in a group or with their family members.
Couples Therapy or Counseling
When it comes to relationships the dynamics are still the same. We see the "problem" in our partner's behavior instead of our own emotional reactions. By defining the source of the problem in our partner we have nothing to do but blame, control and "fix" our partner. Blame and control come from trying to change our partner into our preconceived images of how the other should be.
Couples counseling bring in both partners to realistically discuss the problem, develop authentic communication and learn to let go of the negative emotions that keep you disconnected from one another.
Family Therapy or Counseling
As the name suggests, family therapy includes many if not all the members of a family. Many times a family will have one family member with a "problem." Perhaps it is a teen who runs away or an elderly parent who is not taking care of themselves. The family comes together to talk about how the problem effects each member individually as well as how it affects the family system. The goal of family therapy is two fold. The first goal is to resolve the individual's problem. The second goal is to improve the functioning of the family as a whole.
Group Therapy or Counseling
A group is designed to address a specific problem shared by many individuals. The types of problems can include Anger Management, Depression, Trauma, Addiction, Wellness, Parenting etc.. A group can take a few different forms. Some groups are open-meaning the group is on-going and members of the group can join or leave as they see fit. An example of that kind of group might be Alcoholics Anonymous or a depression support group. Other groups are closed. Closed groups have a defined beginning or end. They do not allow new members to join in the middle of the group. An example of a closed group might be a 6-week parenting group. Most groups include some education or skill-building as well as interaction with the other group members.
