When you start looking for mental health support, one of the first hurdles can be the language. Counsellor, psychologist, therapist, psychotherapist. The titles overlap, and it is not always obvious what the differences are or who you should actually see.
If you’ve found yourself searching counsellor or psychologist, you’re certainly not alone. It is a common question, and the answer is not simply that one profession is better than the other.
Counsellors and psychologists can both provide talking therapy and support people through difficult periods of their lives. The important differences are in their training, professional regulation, scope of practice, and the kinds of assessment and treatment they are trained to provide.
I’m a registered psychologist, so psychology is naturally the profession I know best. I also think it is important to be fair about counselling. There are highly trained and thoughtful counsellors doing valuable work, and counselling can be the right choice for some people.
The more useful question is not simply “Which profession is better?” but “What kind of support am I looking for, and what level of training and assessment do I want behind it?”
Counsellor vs Psychologist: What Is the Difference?
One of the main differences between counsellors and psychologists in Australia is the way the professions are trained and regulated.
Psychologists are registered health practitioners regulated nationally through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and the Psychology Board of Australia. The title “psychologist” is protected, meaning only people who meet the registration requirements can use it.
Counselling is a separate profession. The title “counsellor” is not currently protected or regulated through AHPRA in the same way as psychology. However, professional bodies such as PACFA (the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia) and the ACA (Australian Counselling Association) have their own registration, training, ethical and professional requirements, and national standards for counsellors and psychotherapists are now being implemented in Australia.
This means that if you are considering a counsellor, it is worth looking at their particular qualifications, professional registration and experience rather than assuming that everyone using the title has the same level of training.
The same principle applies to psychologists. Registration tells you that someone has met the requirements for registration as a psychologist, but it is still worth considering whether their experience, therapeutic approach and areas of practice are a good fit for you.
What Is a Counsellor?
Counsellors support people through a wide range of experiences, including grief, relationship difficulties, stress, life transitions and other challenges. Counselling can provide a space to talk through what is happening, develop a different perspective, understand your feelings and consider what you want to do next.
There is considerable variation within counselling, including differences in training, experience and therapeutic approach.
In Australia, counsellors may register with professional organisations such as PACFA or the Australian Counselling Association, which have their own requirements around training, professional conduct, supervision and continuing professional development.
If you are considering counselling, I would recommend checking the individual practitioner’s qualifications and professional registration rather than relying on the word “counsellor” alone.
Counselling can be an appropriate form of support for many people. A responsible counsellor will also recognise when a person’s needs fall outside their scope of practice and recommend another professional when appropriate.
Counsellor vs Therapist: What’s the Difference?
This is where the terminology becomes particularly confusing.
“Therapist” is a broad term rather than a profession in its own right. Psychologists, counsellors, social workers and other mental health professionals may all describe the work they provide as therapy.
“Psychotherapist” is similarly used by practitioners from different professional backgrounds, although some professional organisations use it as a specific credential.
So counsellor vs therapist is not really an apples-to-apples comparison. A counsellor may be a therapist. A psychologist may also describe themselves as a therapist.
If you are trying to decide who to see, the more useful questions are: What is this person’s professional qualification? How are they regulated or registered? What experience do they have? What kind of therapy do they provide? And does that approach fit what you are looking for?
What Is a Psychologist?
A psychologist is a registered health professional trained in human behaviour, psychological functioning and mental health.
In Australia, psychologists are registered through AHPRA and the Psychology Board of Australia. The profession has nationally regulated requirements for education, supervised practice, professional conduct and ongoing professional development.
Psychologists can provide psychological assessment and treatment, including assessment and diagnosis of mental health conditions where this falls within their scope of practice. Psychologists work across a wide range of settings and therapeutic approaches, so seeing a psychologist does not necessarily mean receiving one particular type of therapy.
Some psychologists also have an area of practice endorsement, such as clinical psychology, reflecting additional approved training and supervised practice in that area.
Psychologists do not prescribe medication. Where medication is appropriate, a psychologist can work alongside a GP or psychiatrist as part of a person’s broader care.
For context, I’m a registered psychologist and clinical psychology registrar. I provide psychodynamic individual therapy to adults across Australia via telehealth.
Counsellor or Psychologist: Which One Do I Need?
This is probably the question you’re actually trying to answer.
A counsellor may be a good fit if you are looking for support with a particular life difficulty, such as grief, a relationship problem, stress, a major transition or another situation where you would benefit from having someone to talk things through with.
A psychologist may be a better fit if you are experiencing persistent or significant psychological distress, want psychological assessment or diagnosis, are wondering whether you may have a mental health condition, or want access to Medicare rebates for eligible psychological treatment.
There is also considerable overlap. A person’s circumstances do not always fit neatly into one category, and the individual practitioner’s training and experience matter.
For me, one of the most important questions is whether the professional you choose has the training and scope of practice to understand what you are experiencing and provide the kind of treatment you are looking for.
You also do not have to know the answer before you make contact. A good psychologist or counsellor should be able to tell you honestly whether their work is likely to be appropriate for what you are bringing.
When Might a Psychologist Be the Better Choice?
There are some situations where I would generally recommend starting with a psychologist rather than assuming counselling is sufficient.
This may include when:
- You are experiencing symptoms that are persistent, severe or significantly affecting your day-to-day life.
- You are wondering whether you may have a mental health condition such as depression, an anxiety disorder or another psychological difficulty.
- You want a formal psychological assessment or diagnosis.
- Your difficulties are longstanding, recurring or affecting several areas of your life.
- You have tried to manage the problem yourself but continue to find yourself caught in the same patterns.
- You want to explore psychological difficulties through an established therapeutic approach over time.
- You would like to access a Medicare rebate for eligible psychological treatment.
This does not mean that a counsellor cannot work with someone experiencing psychological distress. Scope of practice depends on the individual practitioner’s training, competence and experience.
It simply means that when you are looking for psychological assessment or treatment, a registered psychologist gives you access to a profession with nationally regulated training and registration requirements.
Counsellor vs Psychologist in Australia: Cost, Medicare and Access
Cost is another practical difference people often want to understand when searching counsellor vs psychologist in Australia.
You do not generally need a referral to see either a counsellor or a psychologist privately.
However, Medicare rebates are available for eligible psychological services provided by registered psychologists under the Better Access initiative. Accessing a Medicare rebate generally involves a referral from a GP or psychiatrist and meeting the relevant eligibility requirements.
Counselling is not covered by Medicare, although some counsellors may be eligible to provide rebates through particular private health insurance policies.
Psychologists often charge more than counsellors, although this varies considerably between practitioners. If you are comparing costs, it is worth considering the total out-of-pocket cost after any Medicare or private health insurance rebate rather than simply comparing the initial fee.
There are also reasons beyond cost to consider when choosing a practitioner. The therapeutic approach, the person’s experience, their scope of practice and whether you feel comfortable with them can all matter to whether therapy is useful.
What About the Therapeutic Relationship?
There is one part of choosing a therapist that can easily get lost in comparisons between professions: the person you are actually sitting with matters.
Training and professional qualifications matter. So does the quality of the relationship you develop with your therapist.
You need to feel that the person understands what you are trying to communicate, takes your experience seriously and creates enough trust for you to talk honestly about things that may be difficult to discuss.
This does not mean that qualifications are irrelevant. They provide important information about a practitioner’s training, professional accountability and scope of practice.
But qualifications are only part of the decision. A psychologist whose approach does not suit you may be a worse fit than a counsellor whose training and way of working are exactly what you need.
The aim is not to find the most impressive title. It is to find someone appropriately trained to help with your particular difficulties, whose way of working feels right for you.
Getting Started with Alicia Shevlin
I’m a registered psychologist offering psychodynamic psychotherapy to adults across Australia via telehealth, with sessions held over Zoom on weekday mornings.
I work psychodynamically because I believe psychological difficulties are worth understanding in the context of the whole person, rather than treating them simply as problems to be managed. My approach is particularly suited to people who want space to explore recurring patterns, relationships, emotions and the ways they have come to understand themselves.
If you’re unsure whether that is the kind of therapy you are looking for, I offer a free 15-minute phone call to talk through what is bringing you to therapy and whether my way of working is likely to be a good fit.
And if I think another kind of support would better suit what you need, I’ll tell you. Finding the right professional is more important than convincing you to choose me.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “Counsellor” A Protected Title In Australia?
No. “Counsellor” isn’t a protected or AHPRA-registered title, which means it isn’t regulated by the government in the way “psychologist” is. Many counsellors belong to professional bodies such as PACFA or the ACA and meet those bodies’ training and ethical standards, so it’s worth looking for a counsellor registered with a reputable association.
Can A Counsellor Diagnose Mental Health Conditions?
Assessing and diagnosing mental health conditions is part of a psychologist’s training, and also falls to GPs and psychiatrists. Counsellors generally focus on supportive, talk-based work rather than formal diagnosis. If you’d like an assessment or diagnosis, a psychologist, GP or psychiatrist is the appropriate person to see.
Do Counsellors Or Psychologists Offer Medicare Rebates?
Psychologists can offer Medicare rebates if you have a Mental Health Treatment Plan and referral from your GP or psychiatrist — for up to 10 individual sessions per calendar year. Counselling isn’t currently covered by Medicare, though some private health funds may offer a rebate depending on your cover.
Do I Need A Referral To See A Psychologist Or Counsellor?
No — you can book directly with either a psychologist or a counsellor privately, without a referral. A referral from your GP or psychiatrist is only needed if you want to claim a Medicare rebate for sessions with a psychologist. Without one, sessions are privately billed.
Can I See A Counsellor Or Psychologist Online In Australia?
Yes. Both counsellors and psychologists commonly offer telehealth, and online sessions can be effective for many people. I work entirely via telehealth over Zoom with adults across Australia, on weekday mornings in AEST — typically most workable for people in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, the ACT and the Northern Territory.
If you’ve been going back and forth trying to work out what kind of support you need, that uncertainty is a perfectly good reason to reach out. I offer a free 15-minute phone call to talk it through — and if a psychologist isn’t the right fit, I’ll happily help you find who is.
