How do I know whether I need counselling or a psychiatrist?

If your problem is a **concrete life situation** calling for support in adaptation or processing — counselling. If you have **psychological symptoms** that have been going on for a long time, that wear you out every day, or that significantly interfere with your functioning (sleep, appetite, energy, concentration) — start with a psychiatrist, who can establish whether you are dealing with a clinical condition. In many cases, the best approach combines both.

How many counselling sessions will I need?

It varies. For well-defined situations (an important decision, a recent bereavement, a specific adaptation), 4–8 sessions can be enough. For complex situations or difficult life periods, the process can take several months.

Can I combine counselling with other forms of treatment?

Yes. Many people have counselling in parallel with psychiatric assessment or with medical treatment. At Acord Med, if your counsellor sees that involving another specialist would help, we can coordinate internally without sending you elsewhere.

Can I move from counselling to psychotherapy with the same specialist?

It depends on the specialist. Some counsellors also have training in psychotherapy and can continue the work in that format; others recommend moving to a dedicated therapist. This decision is made together, depending on your goals.

You can fill in the form on the Contact page or call us at +40 740 885 566.

Psychological and Psychiatric Counselling

What psychological and psychiatric counselling is

Psychological and psychiatric counselling is a form of short- or medium-term psychological support, focused on specific situations and well-defined problems. It is provided by clinical psychologists or psychotherapists with training in counselling.

Unlike psychotherapy (which works on deep patterns, over time, with the goal of structural change), counselling deals with:

concrete situations in the present
difficult decisions of the moment
intense emotions that need a framework for processing
adapting to changes or losses

Counselling is, by its nature, shorter than psychotherapy — usually between a few sessions and a few months.

Not sure whether you need counselling or psychotherapy? See the difference →

Who counselling is for

Counselling is a good fit when:

You are going through a difficult period:

the loss of someone close (bereavement counselling)
divorce, separation, major changes in relationships
difficult professional changes — being made redundant, a career change, feeling stuck
a medical diagnosis that shifts your perspective
other life events that go beyond what you can handle on your own

You are having difficulty adapting:

adapting to a new situation (relocation, a new job, the birth of a child)
changes in role — becoming a parent, a change in family status
adapting to changes in important relationships

You are dealing with intense emotions:

disproportionate anger or irritability
persistent sadness without meeting the criteria for clinical depression
chronic frustration
guilt or shame that influences your decisions

You have problems with organisation and prioritising:

time management
work–life balance
difficulties with organisation in the context of being overstretched

Relational problems:

difficulties communicating in relationships
couples problems (individual counselling, not couples therapy — for couples there is a separate service)
family conflicts

Behaviours that are causing you problems:

problematic substance use (counselling can be a first step; severe cases require psychiatric evaluation)
repeated decisions you regret
patterns of avoidance that are narrowing your life

Counselling vs. psychotherapy

The two services are often confused. Here are the essential differences:

	Counselling	Psychotherapy
Focus	Concrete, present situations	Deep, structural patterns
Duration	Several sessions – several months	Several months – several years
Typical frequency	Every 1–2 weeks, as needed	Weekly, usually
Goals	Adapting, managing a situation	Lasting change in personality or patterns
Indications	Life crises, difficult periods, decisions	Mental disorders, persistent patterns, chronic suffering
Engagement with the past	Limited to what is relevant for the present	Often extensive

In practice: if you are facing a concrete, recent, definable problem — counselling. If you recognise a pattern that has been repeating itself for years and that you want to understand and change — psychotherapy.

The line between the two is not rigid, however. Sometimes counselling identifies deeper patterns and recommends moving on to psychotherapy. Sometimes therapy started with a specific goal turns into structural work.

Request an appointment →

What a counselling session is like

The first counselling session lasts 45–60 minutes and is a conversation in which we understand together what brings you in, clarify the goal of working together and agree a work plan — how many sessions seem necessary and what we will address.

Subsequent sessions are focused on the agreed goal. The work is usually oriented towards the present — on what is happening now, the decisions you have to make, how you are managing the situation. The past is addressed only insofar as it is relevant to the present.

The total number of sessions is adjusted depending on how things progress — sometimes 4–6 sessions are enough, sometimes the process calls for several months.

Cost and CNAS

CNAS coverage — certain psychological and psychiatric counselling services can be covered by Acord Med’s contract with the National Health Insurance Fund, on the basis of a referral. We can advise at the time of booking on the available options.

Paid — current rates are on the Pricing page.