Therapy, counselling and small-group learning: some similarities and differences examined from a linguistic viewpoint

The growing use of small groups in educational settings, therapy and counselling contains a danger of confusion in the purposes of the three modes. A university course in psychosexual counselling (containing, therefore, elements of education, therapy and counselling) is analysed using a linguistic framework. The similarities the three modes have with each other are examined and the differences between therapy and counselling on the one hand, and education on the other, are illustrated. It is suggested that some understanding of the different linguistic rules used in the three modes will permit students on a university course of this kind to make more rapid progress, and will provide both students and tutors with greater satisfaction.