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A plain English guide · Fareham, Hampshire, and online
Counselling, CBT, hypnotherapy or EMDR? Which one you need
Most people arrive with no idea which type of therapy fits their situation, and no reason they should. This page explains the difference in ordinary language, with no jargon and nothing to sign up for.
Fareham, Hampshire, plus online therapy UK wide
Free · No email needed · Nothing to sign up for
The short version
How do I know which therapy I need?
You do not have to work it out. Roughly speaking: counselling is for being heard and understood, CBT is for changing patterns of thought and behaviour, EMDR is for processing difficult memories, and hypnotherapy works with the automatic responses underneath. Many people end up with a combination.
If that is all you wanted, you can stop reading and book a call, and we will match you. If you would rather understand it properly first, the rest of this page goes through each one.
Side by side
What each therapy is actually for
There is overlap, and no therapy has a monopoly on any problem. This is the general shape of it.
Counselling
Best when you need to be heard
An unhurried, confidential space to talk things through and make sense of them. Less structured than CBT, and usually open ended rather than a fixed number of sessions.
Often used for: grief, relationship difficulties, low mood, life changes, feeling stuck, and anything you have never said out loud.
About counsellingCBT
Best when you want practical change
Structured work on the thoughts and behaviours that keep a problem going, usually over an agreed number of sessions, with things to try between them.
Often used for: anxiety, panic, phobias, OCD, low mood and sleep. It has the strongest research base of the four.
About CBTEMDR
Best when something happened
A structured trauma therapy that helps the brain process distressing memories so they lose their charge. You do not have to describe every detail out loud.
Often used for: trauma and PTSD, difficult single events, and anxiety or phobias that trace back to something specific.
About EMDRClinical hypnotherapy
Best for automatic responses
Works with the part of the mind that runs habits and the fear response, using deep relaxation rather than trying to reason with it. You stay awake and in control throughout.
Often used for: habits, smoking, sleep, physical tension, IBS, confidence and the panic side of phobias.
About hypnotherapyWe also offer couples counselling, Hypno-CBT, mindfulness and coaching. If what you need is not obvious from the above, that is completely normal, and it is our job rather than yours.
A rough starting point
If this is what you are dealing with
A guide, not a rule. Your therapist will confirm what actually fits once they have heard your situation.
- Anxiety or panicCBT, often with hypnotherapy
- Something traumatic happenedEMDR
- Grief or a difficult life changeCounselling
- A phobiaCBT with gradual exposure, or hypnotherapy
- A habit you want to breakHypnotherapy
- Relationship difficultiesCouples counselling
- Low moodCBT or counselling
- Sleep problemsHypnotherapy or CBT
- Confidence and self-esteemCounselling or hypnotherapy
- Not sure at allStart with a free call
Everything we offer
Ways we can help
Individual counselling
A safe space to talk and be heardClinical hypnotherapy
Working with the automatic mindCBT
Practical, structured techniquesEMDR therapy
Process difficult memoriesCouples counselling
Reconnect and communicate betterMind coaching
Performance and mindset coachingMindfulness
Calm, presence and balanceOnline therapy
Support from wherever you areCommon concerns
What we treat most often
Yours to keep
Download our free guide to therapy
Everything on this page and more, in one friendly brochure. Read it in your own time, share it with someone you trust, and come back to us with questions whenever you are ready. No email address required.
Wherever you are
Therapy in person or online
Counselling, CBT, EMDR and hypnotherapy from your own home, your workplace, or in person at our Fareham practice. Whichever suits you, the care is the same.
Our online therapy is available across the UK and beyond, delivered by fully trained UK therapists. Plenty of people start online because it feels less daunting, and move to the room later if they want to.
No surprises
You do not have to decide alone
- 1
You send a message or call
Tell us roughly what has been going on. You do not need to name a therapy or have any of it worked out.
- 2
A free 15 minute call
A relaxed, confidential chat with an experienced therapist about what would suit you. No cost, no obligation.
- 3
We match you with the right therapist
We suggest the approach and the therapist we think fits, in person in Fareham or online, and you decide whether to start.
Counselling from £72 a session. CBT, hypnotherapy and EMDR from £90. See all fees
Good to know
Questions people ask before they start
What is the difference between counselling and CBT?
Counselling gives you space to talk things through and be understood, and tends to be open ended. CBT is more structured and time limited, focused on changing specific thoughts and behaviours, usually with things to practise between sessions. Neither is better. They suit different problems and different people.
What is the difference between counselling and psychotherapy?
The terms overlap a great deal and are often used interchangeably. Broadly, counselling tends to focus on a current difficulty over a shorter period, while psychotherapy tends to go deeper into longer standing patterns, often over more time. Both involve talking with a trained, accredited professional.
How do I know which therapy I need?
You do not have to know, and most people who contact us do not. Tell us what has been happening and we will suggest the approach and the therapist we think fits. If we think something we do not offer would serve you better, we will say so.
Is hypnotherapy the same as being hypnotised on stage?
No. Clinical hypnotherapy is a state of focused relaxation, not sleep and not unconsciousness. You stay aware throughout, you can speak and move, and you cannot be made to do anything you would not ordinarily do. Most people describe it as being absorbed in a book.
Can I have more than one type of therapy?
Yes, and many people do. Combining approaches is common, for example CBT alongside hypnotherapy for anxiety, or counselling alongside EMDR where something difficult has happened. Your therapist will shape it around you rather than sticking to one label.
How many sessions will I need?
It depends on the approach and on what you are working with. Focused work on a specific phobia or habit can be short. Longer standing difficulties take longer. You will get an honest, realistic idea after the first session or two, and you are never tied into a block you have not chosen.
What does it cost?
Counselling starts at £72 a session, and CBT, hypnotherapy and EMDR from £90. The full list is on our fees page, and the first 15 minute call is free.
Do I need a referral from my GP?
No. You can contact us directly. That said, we would often encourage you to speak to your GP too, particularly if what you are dealing with affects your physical health or if you might benefit from NHS services alongside us.
Is everything confidential?
Yes. Your sessions are private and treated with the strictest confidence. Nothing is shared with family, employers or your GP without your agreement. The only rare exception is where there is a serious risk to someone's safety, and your therapist would talk that through with you.
What if I do not get on with my therapist?
Tell us. The relationship matters more than the technique, and it is not awkward or unusual to want someone different. We have a team rather than one person, so we can move you without you having to start again somewhere else.
Ready to take the first step?
Download the free guide, or start with a free 15 minute call and we will help you work out what would suit you. No cost, no obligation, and no need to have decided anything first.