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Do I need to see a Psychologist, or can I see a Counsellor?
If you’re considering pursuing therapy, you may have wondered what the difference is between a counsellor and a psychologist, and who would be best suited to help you.
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Counsellors and psychologists are both licensed mental health professionals, and do have some overlap in the frameworks, modalities, knowledge base, and style of therapy used. However, there are some differences between the two.
Psychologist
​To start, psychologists are allied health professionals who require university qualifications. They complete four to six years of tertiary study, and are trained in the assessment, diagnosis, management and/or prevention of mental health conditions. They do not prescribe medication for pharmaceutical drugs (that’s the role of a Psychiatrist).
Psychologists often use “talk therapies” – evidence based treatments and interventions that focus on human behaviour and the processes involved in how people feel and think. Psychologist do use many of the same therapy techniques as counsellors (i.e. CBT, DBT, trauma to name a few) however their qualifications have included training in the medical model. This means that psychologists are trained to assess, diagnose, and treat a wide range of mental health issues and psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and more.
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Psychologist will often take more of an active role in implementing strategies to help you navigate your day to day life, as well as your particular symptoms/problems. The therapist is the expert in guiding your treatment and concerns.
In Australia, Medicare and/or private health fund rebates are available for the services of a Registered Psychologist. However, this doesn't mean that sessions will be 100% covered by medicare. There is often a gap fee that you must pay.
Counsellor
Counsellors focus more on supporting their clients as a person, rather than a patient. Counsellors help you meet your unique needs by leading you to better understand yourself, and can help you navigate through thoughts, feelings, problematic behaviours, or challenging life situations like a loss or big life transition.
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The main role of a counsellor is not to diagnose/treat mental illness or significant trauma, but to apply psychotherapy techniques to provide support. They help you with specific areas of difficulty, allowing a safe and judgement-free space to talk through concerns in a confidential environment. A counsellor will encourage their clients to think of their own solutions (with guidance), as opposed to offering specific advice – in this scenario, the client is the expert in their own life.
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Typically, counsellors will focus on immediate and practical issues, such as processing grief or anger, identifying options and pathways for life decisions (either personal or professional), ways to manage conflict, as well as improving interpersonal and communication skills. The approach is generally more holistic and less focused on clinical diagnosis, with an emphasis on building a supporting and empathetic relationship with the client.
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Counsellors don’t require a university degree (yet), however they require at minimum a diploma and membership to a governing body such as the Australian Counselling Association (ACA), or Psychotherapy and Counselling federation of Australia (PACFA).
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Because counsellors don't use a medical model and are not recognised by the government as 'allied health,' they cannot offer medicare rebates as payment. However some private health funds include rebates and counselling services can be accessed through NDIS funding or a workplace EAP if that's available to you. Counselling fees also tend to be lower to bring them into the ballpark of the out-of-pocket cost for a psychologist.
So, which is the best fit for me?
Essentially, if your issue is quite straight-forward (i.e. a specific problem to resolve, such as relationship troubles, low self-esteem, work problems, adjusting to the effects of Covid-19, or decision making at a cross-roads in your life) a counsellor is a great place to start, particularly as costs are often lower for counselling as opposed to a psychologist. Often, counsellors will specialise in a particular field (such as childhood trauma, or couples counselling) so you can find someone that has specific interest and experience in your particular area of concern.
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If you are experiencing mental health problems that are affecting your ability to cope with day to day life (such as symptoms of depression, anxiety, or mood disorder), a registered psychologist is the better option for you – their further tertiary education allows them to treat your symptoms and provide a diagnosis if required. While fees are often higher for Psychologists, the out-of-pocket expense may be lower if eligible for Medicare rebates, which will require a referral from your GP via a mental health care plan.
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Most importantly, be sure to do your research in order to find the right therapist to suit your needs. Every therapist will have different skills, strengths, therapy styles, as well as individual personalities, so it’s important to find someone that you feel will understand and support you. You also need mutual respect for each other – research shows that getting on well with the therapist you choose is the single biggest predictor of successful change in therapy. Sometimes this takes a few sessions to get comfortable, so don’t be scared to try another therapist if the first person you try doesn’t feel like the best fit for your particular needs and personality.
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