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Talking therapy and counselling

Disclaimer:

This publication is based on a Mind UK publication and the original version may be found here: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/a-z-mental-health/

Thank you to Mind UK for sharing their valuable content with us. Content included in Mental Health A-Z is made available free of charge and does not form part of any commercial activity. The adaptation has been done independently by Mind HK and is intended for general information purposes only.

What different therapies are there? 

Talking therapies can differ in: 

  • Their focus (for example, learning about more yourself by talking about your past, or working on overcoming a specific problem you have now) 
  • The techniques the therapist might use during sessions 
  • The academic theory behind them. 

Therapists use all sorts of complicated words to describe their particular style of therapy, which can be really confusing. This table explains some common terms you might come across: 

 

Term used What it means about the therapy 
Arts or creative  Uses creative processes such as painting, drawing, drama and music as a way to help explore and communicate difficult or confusing feelings – such as in arts and creative therapies. 
Behavioural  Explores the way you act. 
Cognitive Explores your thoughts and the way you think – such as in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
Dialectical Explores opposite positions and looks at how they might exist together – such as in dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT)
Humanistic Focuses on the individual as a whole, including mind, body, spirit and soul.
Mindfulness-based  Involves becoming aware of all your current thoughts and feelings and learning how to accept them. Often involves mindfulness techniques, such as meditation and breathing exercises.
Person- centred  Focuses on using your own strengths and insight about yourself to encourage personal growth and improve relationships. 
Psychoanalytic (or analytic)  Focuses on unconscious, deep-rooted thoughts that often stem from childhood. 
Psychodynamic (or dynamic)  Explores how your unconscious thoughts and feelings might affect the way you act.
Solution-focused Focuses on what you want to achieve in the future rather than exploring past experiences. 

Many therapists are trained in several different styles and will tailor their approach for you. In this case they might also use words like ‘eclectic’, ‘blended’ or ‘integrative’ when they describe how they work. 

 

The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) website has an extensive A–Z of therapeutic approaches. This list covers many types of therapy by name, and explains the different beliefs and approaches behind each one. 

 

But it’s important to be aware that not all therapies are available everywhere. Sometimes it can feel like you don’t have much choice, as it may largely depend on what’s available locally. It might help most to learn what’s available to you personally, and talk with your therapist about how to get the most from your therapy. 

 

“Don’t be disheartened if the first talking treatment you try doesn’t help. It took me three attempts to find the right therapy for my anxiety and six to find the right one for my post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – the right treatment is out there.”
 

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What is iACT Service?

Improving Access to Community Therapies (iACT®) is one of the services from Mind HK. Trained Wellbeing Practitioners will offer initial assessment and early intervention for people dealing with mild to moderate symptoms of depression, anxiety, or other emotional difficulties.

 

The service includes 6-8 sessions of low-intensity psychological support, the flexibility of the service allows individuals to receive free and timely support when needed.

If you’re aged between 18 – 65 and are facing some emotional challenges, we would like to invite you to take an online assessment for us to gain a better understanding of your current emotional struggle.

 

If you’re eligible, we’ll get you connected with a Wellbeing Practitioner within two weeks to sort out the next steps.

The service runs for about 3 months and includes 6-8 support sessions, tailored to your needs.

 

We encourage you to attend all sessions and actively practice the tips and exercises provided by your Wellbeing Practitioner.

We take your privacy seriously. Your chats with the Wellbeing Practitioner are confidential.

 

We won’t share any of your info unless you’ve provided consent or if there are risks detected.

This programme isn’t suitable for people facing emergencies, major setbacks, or those diagnosed with serious or complex mental health conditions.

 

If you’re having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, this programme might not meet your needs, so please seek help right away. You can check out Mind HK’s “Find Help Now” page for immediate information and services.

Most of our Wellbeing Practitioners have backgrounds in psychology or counselling and are passionate about mental health. They’ve gone through about 140 hours of intensive training and completed at least 120 hours of supervised clinical practice over 9 months to ensure the quality of service.

 

They’re trained by accredited local experts in the mental health field, including clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists, counsellors, and psychiatrists. Plus, we regularly check how effective our services are. All service outputs and performances are subject to consistent monitoring.

Who is suitable for participating in this programme?

This programme welcomes anyone between the ages of 18 and 65 who may be feeling lost or facing emotional difficulties. Please note that this programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions.

This programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions, but suitable for those who experience mild to severe moderate anxiety, mild to moderate depression, or other emotional challenges. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

After signing up, our Wellbeing Practitioner will contact you within two weeks to schedule a convenient time for a 45-minute conversation, either via video or phone call, according to your preference. During the conversation, the Wellbeing Practitioner will understand your current situation and help you gain a better understanding of your emotional state based on the questionnaire you filled out during application. Additionally, they will provide recommendations for appropriate community resources based on your needs, helping you take an important first step in taking care of your mental health.

Although the intervention procedure is mostly standardised, Wellbeing Practitioners will work flexibly with clients to address individual presenting problems and unique characteristics.

Our Wellbeing Practitioners are trained to support people who experience mild to moderate mental health difficulties primarily. This programme is not suitable for the situations mentioned above. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

Your conversations with the Wellbeing Practitioner are absolutely confidential. Any information about you will not be shared with anyone without your consent unless you or others are at immediate risk or the Wellbeing Practitioner has reason to believe that you may be in imminent danger.
Supervisors will monitor trainees’ development throughout the placement to ensure that they are meeting the required level of competency to pass the training course at the end of the placement.

Yes, it is necessary to book an appointment in advance by filling out the form. Additionally, you can select one of the five stores yourself. We will allocate clients to different Wellbeing Practitioners based on their chosen location.

Before having the conversation, we will ask you to fill out a basic questionnaire for preliminary screening assessment. This screening process aims to ensure that the training received by the Wellbeing Practitioners is sufficient to meet the needs of the individuals receiving the service. If it is determined after the screening assessment that the service is not suitable for you, Mind HK will provide alternative recommendations to ensure your safety and support.

For adults who are suitable for this service, all Wellbeing Practitioners have received training on how to identify and respond to safety and risk issues. If you have any concerns about the support process, the Wellbeing Practitioners have appropriate measures in place and will develop response plans based on the urgency of the situation. They can also access support from clinical practitioners from Mind HK or participating organisations.

What private training does Mind HK provide?

Mind HK provides 4 themes of mental health training, including: Supporting Self, Supporting Others, Family Wellbeing and DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion).

 

Check out the brochure here for more information.

Mind HK provides a wide range of standardised mental health training, which can be tailored to different circumstances. Chat with our team to explore more! 

Our trainers come from a diverse, accredited pool of clinically experienced professionals. Check out our trainers’ biographies here.

Yes, the Mental Health First Aid class of Mind HK is internationally accredited by the MHFA International. The content and certification is delivered by trainers certified from the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong. You can find out our trainers accreditation here.

We are here to support your mental health education journey! Reach out to us and chat with our team.

Types of talking therapy

What different therapies are there? 

Talking therapies can differ in: 

  • Their focus (for example, learning about more yourself by talking about your past, or working on overcoming a specific problem you have now) 
  • The techniques the therapist might use during sessions 
  • The academic theory behind them. 

Therapists use all sorts of complicated words to describe their particular style of therapy, which can be really confusing. This table explains some common terms you might come across: 

 

Term used What it means about the therapy 
Arts or creative  Uses creative processes such as painting, drawing, drama and music as a way to help explore and communicate difficult or confusing feelings – such as in arts and creative therapies. 
Behavioural  Explores the way you act. 
Cognitive Explores your thoughts and the way you think – such as in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
Dialectical Explores opposite positions and looks at how they might exist together – such as in dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT)
Humanistic Focuses on the individual as a whole, including mind, body, spirit and soul.
Mindfulness-based  Involves becoming aware of all your current thoughts and feelings and learning how to accept them. Often involves mindfulness techniques, such as meditation and breathing exercises.
Person- centred  Focuses on using your own strengths and insight about yourself to encourage personal growth and improve relationships. 
Psychoanalytic (or analytic)  Focuses on unconscious, deep-rooted thoughts that often stem from childhood. 
Psychodynamic (or dynamic)  Explores how your unconscious thoughts and feelings might affect the way you act.
Solution-focused Focuses on what you want to achieve in the future rather than exploring past experiences. 

Many therapists are trained in several different styles and will tailor their approach for you. In this case they might also use words like ‘eclectic’, 'blended' or ‘integrative’ when they describe how they work. 

 

The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) website has an extensive A–Z of therapeutic approaches. This list covers many types of therapy by name, and explains the different beliefs and approaches behind each one. 

 

But it's important to be aware that not all therapies are available everywhere. Sometimes it can feel like you don't have much choice, as it may largely depend on what's available locally. It might help most to learn what's available to you personally, and talk with your therapist about how to get the most from your therapy. 

 

“Don't be disheartened if the first talking treatment you try doesn't help. It took me three attempts to find the right therapy for my anxiety and six to find the right one for my post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – the right treatment is out there.”