Therapy Chiang Mai
Therapy Chiang Mai with English and Thai Speaking Therapists
Part of researching therapy Chiang Mai is getting to know the different terminology and titles that are used in the field of counselling and psychotherapy. Depending on where you are from in the world, you may for example envision a ‘therapist’ as performing a different job than that of a ‘counsellor.’ Or perhaps you may use the terms interchangeably and not recognise much of a difference at all. In the UK and Australia people often use the term counsellor (counselor in USA and Canada), as well as the term therapist which is recognised globally.
Therapist derives from the word therapy which is a process of curing, healing, or improving one’s physical, mental and emotional well being. There are many different types of therapists including: Yoga Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech Therapists, and Massage Therapists, just to name a few.
Within the realm of mental health, the type of therapists that we are typically referring to are those who work as counsellors or psychotherapists. These therapists utilise talk therapy combined with other modalities or approaches in their work with clients. Counselling was previously regarded as more of a short-term therapy, whereas psychotherapy took place over the longer term. Nowadays however, with mental health becoming more of a priority in our culture, it is not unusual for counsellors and other therapists to work with clients over months or even years.
What is the Difference Between a Counsellor, Therapist, Psychologist and a Psychiatrist?
Counsellors & Therapists:
Training & Education
Counsellors and therapists in Thailand typically hold a master’s degree (2 – 3 years) in counselling, psychology or counselling psychology. Practical experience working with clients for counselling for masters degrees usually range between 200 and 300 hours of clinical practice in both individual and group counselling utilising a range of counselling techniques supervised by an appointed clinical supervisor.
Roles and Responsibilities:
- Provide individual counselling for adults, children, teens or couples or family therapy.
- Help clients process, cope, manage and resolve personal and emotional issues utilising therapeutic techniques like CBT, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused therapy.
- Counsellors do not diagnose severe mental illnesses or prescribe medication but may refer clients to psychiatrists or psychologists if more intensive treatment is needed.
Psychologists:
Training & Education
Psychologists typically hold a Masters or doctoral degree in psychology (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) and are registered members of one or more psychological associations within Thailand. It is important to note that unlike psychiatrists psychologists are not medical doctors. Their training focuses on the study of behaviour, emotions, and mental processes and usually have one or more areas of specialisation.
Roles and Responsibilities:
- Conduct psychological testing and assessments to clinically diagnose mood disorders or mental health conditions and other psychological issues under the guidance of a licensed psychiatrist for the administration of any prescription medication.
- Work either as researcher or provide psychotherapy and counselling using various therapeutic techniques.
Psychiatrists:
Training and Education:
Psychiatrists are licensed medical doctors (MDs) who specialise in mental health. They complete medical school usually 6 years followed by a residency in psychiatry (usually 3 to 4 years)
Training includes extensive clinical experience in diagnosing and treating mood disorders, psychiatric conditions and severe mental illnesses.
Roles and Responsibilities:
- Diagnose and treat mental health disorders including severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression
- Prescribe medication and perform medical procedures like electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
- Work in hospitals, mental health clinics, and private practices.
- Provide medical reports for insurance companies
Key Differences: Summary
Medical Training: Psychiatrists are medical doctors and can prescribe medication, while psychologists and counsellors are not medical doctors and cannot prescribe medication.
Scope of Practice: Psychiatrists manage both medical and psychological aspects of mental health. Psychologists focus on assessments and or psychotherapy, while counsellors provide supportive counselling and help clients with personal and emotional issues.
Training and Education: Psychiatrists undergo extensive medical and psychiatric training, psychologists complete a masters or doctoral program in psychology, and counselors earn a master’s degree in counseling or a related field.
More information about psychological testing, diagnosis and treatment by be found by visiting our blog post A Guide to Choosing a Psychologist in Thailand – Types, Approaches & Services
Reasons People may Consider Therapy in Chiang Mai
A therapist can fulfil many roles and functions which may include: listening, providing guidance, and encouraging people in the right direction. They use their professional experience combined with the client’s internal resources and external support network in order to support the client’s personal development. Therapy provides a safe, nonjudgmental, and confidential environment in which to explore conflicts, disturbances, or struggles. Therapy may be done in a therapist’s office, private therapy room, or even online, which may be more suitable for some clients. More information about working with a therapist online can be found by visiting our online counselling page.
People seek therapy for a number of reasons – anything from long-term anxiety, recent low mood, sadness or depression, past or current relationship difficulties, and more. There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach when it comes to therapy. An experienced therapist will often not always tell you what you want to hear. This is not to say that therapy sessions will be confrontational, but a lot of emotions can arise when working with a therapist. This is because, oftentimes, the presenting problem is merely a symptom of deeper unresolved, and perhaps even unknown, issues. It is important to commit to ongoing therapy sessions with a trusted provider in order to invest the time and effort necessary to identify, explore, and eventually find the root causes of your issues.
What are Some of the Benefits of Therapy?
There are both short-term and long-term benefits of therapy. Some benefits of therapy may include: a sense of relief or calm; a feeling of satisfaction knowing that you are dedicating time to yourself; a greater sense of self worth or purpose; or increased clarity, and ease when it comes to making decisions and resolving conflict.
Another one of the major benefits of therapy is gaining insight into negative core beliefs and doing the work to actively change these destructive thinking patterns. Negative self-talk and deeply ingrained negative core beliefs can have a significant impact on our relationship with others, and also our relationship with ourselves. If thought precedes action, then we must actively work to adjust our thinking if we want our actions, behaviors, and lives to change. This is the premise of most cognitive based therapy.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Therapy is not always easy or comfortable. A good therapist will provide you with direct and honest feedback and present you with questions and challenges – particularly if they recognise that you are engaging in unhelpful or destructive thought or behaviour patterns. It is the job of the therapist to provide these kinds of reflections from a place of kindness and support and within a safe, therapeutic environment.
Choosing the Right Therapist
Finding the right a therapist can sometimes take time.
One of the easiest and most reliable methods for choosing a therapist in Chiang Mai is to look at online reviews so that you can read about different counsellors and therapists through the eyes of other people in your community. You may look for key descriptors that appeal to you like “patient, good listener, accepting, nonjudgmental, strong social and communication skills, or trusting and flexible.”
Given that therapy is a very private affair, many people may not recommend their therapist to others for the sake of their own confidentiality. This is ultimately up to the individual, but you can rest assured that any reputable and qualified therapist is ethically obligated to keep their clients and the content of their sessions 100% confidential.
Working with a therapist should be a collaborative process. Most experienced therapists offer an initial free consultation prior to any financial commitment. They may also request that you fill out a client enquiry form which will have specific questions which will determine the type of therapist that would be most suitable for you and your needs. The most important thing you can do during this initial phase (and for the duration of your work with a therapist) is to be completely honest. After all, if you are not able to be honest with your therapist, who can you be honest with?
A final point to consider is that therapists are encouraged to look after themselves as well. They should continually update their clinical skillset, and be able to effectively manage their workload and stress levels. A good therapist will do this by engaging in and receiving support from a clinical supervisor, tending to their own self-care, and participating in professional training to continue to deepen their knowledge and expand their expertise. Essentially, you want to find a therapist or counselor that “practices what they preach,” and presents as being grounded, organised, and well-informed.
What is the Standard Duration for Therapy Sessions?
Unfortunately, it is becoming more common worldwide for therapy sessions to be as short as 45 minutes. Influencing factors for this include: cost to the client, therapist’s overheads, and possible high client demand.
At Counselling Thailand we believe that 45 minutes is simply too short of a time to provide effective therapy so we offer both in person therapy sessions in Chiang Mai and online for other areas at an affordable price of
2,675 THAI BAHT FOR 60 MINUTES or
3,745 THAI BAHT FOR 90 MINUTES.
Ninety percent of our clients choose ninety-minute therapy sessions over sixty-minute sessions particularly for couples therapy or the first individual session.
As a registered Thai Limited Company, we are able to provide tax / VAT invoices, and subsidies may also be available for those who are employed in Thailand through an EAP (Employee Assistance Programme). Please contact us for more information regarding this.
How to Arrange Your First Therapy Appointment?
At Counselling Thailand, we understand the importance of finding the right therapist for addressing your concerns and needs. That’s why we offer a free initial 15 minute consultation for individuals and 30 minutes for couples and families before booking your first therapy appointment.
First, complete our online client enquiry form. This will give a little extra information to help us select whom we believe the most suitable therapist would be and then we can email you a list of available appointment times for the free initial call.
During this consultation, we will discuss your specific situation and determine whether our approach aligns with your needs. We will also answer any questions you may have. If you decide to proceed with counselling, we can then schedule the first full session(s) at a mutually convenient time.
If you have any questions before booking the free initial call you can either visit our Frequently Asked Questions Page, or mention these whilst completing the online enquiry form.