Navigating Support: Choosing Between a Psychologist and a Counsellor

Reaching out for support can be difficult. Whether you’re navigating anxiety, feeling stuck in your relationships, or simply recognising the need for help, taking that first step already matters. Yet once the decision to seek support is made, a new layer of uncertainty often emerges.

Who Do I Actually See? A Psychologist or a Counsellor? Is There a Difference?

The short answer is yes, there are differences between counsellors and psychologists, both in terms of training and how support might be offered. The longer answer is more nuanced, shaped by individual needs and preferences. This post provides a broad overview of the distinctions.

The good life is not a state of being. It is a process, not a destination.

Carl R. Rogers

Understanding Psychologists in Australia

Psychologists in Australia are university-trained professionals registered with the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA) under AHPRA. They are qualified to assess, diagnose, and support people with a wide range of mental health concerns.

While all registered psychologists can diagnose within their scope of practice, clinical psychologists have additional training for more complex cases.

They can provide psychometric testing and write formal reports. Psychologists typically use structured, evidence-based therapies. Although they don’t prescribe medication, they often work closely with GPs or psychiatrists. Medicare rebates may apply with a GP under a Mental Health Care Plan.

Counsellors: Training, Ethics, and Support

Counsellors are usually trained professionals, but unfortunately, the counselling profession in Australia isn't yet government-regulated.

It’s important for clients to choose counsellors who are registered with a professional body, such as the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) or PACFA.

These organisations require their members to uphold training standards, ethics, and ongoing development.

Counsellors may hold a diploma, bachelor’s, or master’s degree. They support people through challenges like grief, anxiety, relationship issues, stress, and life transitions. Counsellor offer a safe and non-judgmental space to explore emotions, build self-awareness, foster resilience, and promote personal growth. Drawing from humanistic, existential, and other evidence-based approaches, most counsellors integrate different methods to support insight and meaning-making.

Counsellors may be eligible for private health rebates, depending on their professional registration and the client’s level of extras cover. Clients can check directly with their health insurer to confirm what is included in their policy.

It is the relationship that heals....the relationship, the relationship, the relationship.

Irvin D. Yalom

What Are the Key Differences in the Room?

Here are some key distinctions, keeping in mind that individual styles and training vary, and there is often overlap in practice:

Regulation

• Psychologists are registered health practitioners under AHPRA.

• Counsellors are not government-regulated, but many join professional associations such as ACA or PACFA.

Training

• Psychologists complete a minimum of six years of university study, including supervised clinical practice.

• Counsellors may hold diplomas, bachelor’s degrees, or postgraduate qualifications in counselling or psychotherapy.

Diagnosis

• Psychologists are qualified to assess, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions.

• Counsellors do not diagnose. Their focus is on emotional support, wellbeing, and lived experience.

Focus

• Psychologists often work with diagnosable mental illness, aiming for clinical outcomes.

• Counsellors support personal growth, relationship healing, and coping with life transitions.

Medicare

• Psychologists can offer Medicare rebates with a GP referral under a Mental Health Care Plan.

• Counsellors usually are not Medicare-eligible but may be covered by private health insurance or EAPs.

Approach

• Psychologists often prefer structured, evidence-based interventions like CBT or DBT.

• Counsellors may work more relationally and integratively, drawing from a range of modalities tailored to each client.

The Gift of Growth

Finding the right therapist can be challenging. It’s understandable to feel disheartened when time, effort, and money don’t yield the hoped-for changes. You might be tempted to give up, but working on yourself is one of the greatest gifts you can give.

Therapy is about softening the inner critic, making sense of your experiences, and understanding the parts within you. It’s also about learning how to set your boundaries.

This journey is personal, shaped by moments of hope and positivity, but also by struggle and the courage to face one’s own inner demons. Ultimately, it is a path toward growth and self-compassion, and being seen and supported matters most.

As Irvin Yalom reminds us, it is the relationship that heals. At the heart of therapy, it’s often the connection itself that becomes the catalyst for change.

When we are no longer able to change a situation… we are challenged to change ourselves.

Viktor E. Frankl

Final Thoughts

If you’re unsure where to begin, it’s okay to reach out and ask questions. Most practitioners offer an initial conversation to help you choose whether the fit feels right.

Seeking help is about finding the right support to gain insight and awareness for the part of you that longs to feel more connected.

There are many ways to find support, including helplines, support groups, your GP, or a counsellor.

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