Counsellor, psychotherapist, psychologist, or mental health social worker?
We have all sorts of amazing therapists for mental health counselling in Margaret River. If you’re wondering what the difference is between a counsellor, psychotherapist, psychologist, or mental health social worker, this guide is for you. Learn to understand the differences and choose the right therapist for your needs.
Counsellors
Counsellors study from a 1-year diploma, up to a master’s or Doctorate. Many health professionals can be trained in counselling including nurses, occupational therapists, social workers, and psychologists.
Counsellors work with all sorts of people and problems, including identity issues, trauma, domestic violence, child abuse, anxiety, and depression.
Counsellors support people to overcome problems, create new insights, enhance their capacity, develop new awareness of feelings, regulate emotions, and establish new actions and behaviours.
Psychotherapists
Psychotherapy involves an advanced level of training at a master’s degree or doctorate level, including significant components of clinical skill development in psychotherapy.
Psychotherapy is more in-depth than counselling, and primarily focused on working with complex processes. It is holistic and integrative, incorporating multiple experiences of a person’s world including their psychological, emotional, relational, and spiritual health.
Psychotherapists work with all sorts of people and problems including anxiety, depression, trauma, child abuse, domestic violence, anger, and personal development.
Outcomes of psychotherapy include those listed from counselling, but also include deeper meaning making and unravelling complex patterns.
Psychologists
At a minimum, psychologists study a bachelor’s in psychology and do an extra postgraduate year of study, plus a year of mental health supervision. Some psychologists go on to study at a master’s or doctorate level in various types of psychology.
Psychologists studying to become therapists have training in counselling and psychotherapy. They work with a range of mental health concerns and complex problems. They also have extensive training in research, assessment, diagnosis, and intervention.
A clinical psychologist has further specialist training at master’s or doctorate level. If you need a diagnosis for special medication or a Centrelink payment, you will need to see a clinical psychologist.
Mental Health Social Workers (MHSWs)
MHSWs study a bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work, then an additional 2-years of clinical training in mental health. They generally train in counselling and psychotherapy, and have specialist training in how social determinants contribute to mental illness.
In other words, MHSWs specialise in therapy where there are co-existing problems such as oppression, adversity, discrimination, domestic violence, disability, racism, and legal issues.
Like psychologists, MHSW’s are approved by Medicare to deliver ‘Focused Psychological Strategies’. MHSW’s work with the same mental health concerns as the above professions, though with more emphasis on social justice and broader systems.
Comparison of Mental Health Professionals in Australia
| Profession | Qualifications | What They Do | How They Work | Best For | Medicare Rebates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Counsellor | Diploma to Master’s (ideally Bachelor’s+); registered with PACFA or ACA | Supports mental health, relationships, identity, trauma, grief, DV, anxiety, depression | Client-centred, supportive, relational; focuses on insight, emotion regulation, behaviour change | People seeking therapy in a warm, less clinical setting | ❌ (unless also an MHSW, psychologist, etc.) |
| Psychotherapist | Master’s or Doctorate in psychotherapy or equivalent; often PACFA-registered | Works with complex and longstanding issues like trauma, identity, and existential concerns | Depth-oriented, integrative, and holistic; explores emotions, patterns, and meaning | Complex trauma, long-term emotional issues, identity exploration | ❌ (same as above) |
| Psychologist | Bachelor + 1-year postgrad (General Reg.); Clinical Psychologists require Master’s or Doctorate | Assesses, diagnoses, and treats mental health conditions | Evidence-based (CBT, ACT, DBT); often structured and goal-oriented | Diagnosis, short-term structured therapy, assessments for reports | ✅ (via Mental Health Treatment Plan with GP) |
| MHSW (Mental Health Social Worker) | Bachelor or Master’s of Social Work + 2 years clinical MH training | Therapy plus support navigating social challenges (DV, housing, legal, poverty) | Evidence-based, justice-oriented, trauma-informed | Co-occurring social and emotional issues (e.g., DV, NDIS, systemic disadvantage) | ✅ (via Mental Health Treatment Plan with GP) |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose which therapist is right for me?
In some instances, you will want to choose a specific type of therapist. For example:
- Counsellors may be better at engagement and doing therapy that feels less formal
- Mental Health Occupational Therapists may better suit people with Autism with functional impairments
- Psychotherapists and psychotherapy-trained therapists may be better for working with childhood trauma
- Clinical psychologists are required for a mental health diagnosis
- MHSW’s may be better for when there’s also other issues like domestic violence
In other instances, for mild-moderate mental health problems it sometimes doesn’t matter what type of therapist you choose. Research says that up to 85% of positive outcomes in therapy come down to a strong therapeutic relationship. This means that it’s extremely important to have a good relationship with your therapist where you feel respected, dignified, safe, and supported. Further, there will variably be crossover between different type of therapists.
Extra reading
Counselling: https://pacfa.org.au/common/Uploaded%20files/PCFA/Documents/College-of-Counselling-Definition_of_Counselling.pdf
Psychotherapy: https://pacfa.org.au/common/Uploaded%20files/PCFA/Documents/Definition-of-Psychotherapy.pdf
Psychology: https://psychology.org.au/psychology/about-psychology
Mental Health Social Worker: https://www.aasw.asn.au/document/item/4372
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