What is therapy?

In everyday language, “therapy” can mean anything that brings us pleasure—shopping, being in nature, growing tomatoes, or cuddling a pet. In the counselling and psychotherapy world, however, it has a more precise meaning. Counselling (or talking therapy) takes many forms, but they all share one key feature: a collaborative conversation between a trained professional and a client, framed within agreed boundaries of time, place, and confidentiality. That consistency and privacy give you the safety you need to explore whatever matters most to you. While therapy often helps people feel better in the moment, its true value goes beyond short-term comfort. It can deepen your self-understanding, help you live more authentically, and guide you toward a richer, more fulfilling life—one that goes beyond the immediate pleasure of a new shirt or a walk in the woods.