There is a huge overlap between counselling and psychotherapy. The following offers a comparison but there are no hard and fast rules and what follows below is a general description.
Counselling
Focuses on short-term, or current issues which have arisen in response to a recent event
Therapy is often short term. (weeks rather than months)
May deal with functioning individuals who are experiencing difficulties in their current situation.
Focus more likely to be on behaviours and actions. Therapists are more likely to offer support, guidance, and problem-solving for current issues.
Psychotherapy
Focuses on recurring or chronic issues.
Psychotherapy can be challenging
A psychotherapist may use various forms of therapy talking, cognitive behavioural, art, drama, music and movement.
A Psychotherapist focus on a person’s entrenched and long-held patterns of thought and behaviour.
Therapy may be long term. (months rather than weeks)
Psychotherapists often have a degree in psychology before they embark on further post graduate training in therapy.
Therapy may focus on a psychological disorder or problems with psychological functioning.
Therapy may focus on personal growth from an in-depth focus on core issues.