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Counsellor or Psychologist? Understanding the Differences

Woman looking through a magnifier

Reaching out for support is not easy. Whether you’re navigating anxiety, feeling stuck in your relationships, or simply recognising the need for help, is already a significant step. But once you’ve decided to get help, a new layer of confusion often arises:

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, in terms of training and in how support might be offered.

The longer answer is more nuanced and often shaped by individual needs and preferences. This post provides a broad overview of the distinctions.


Build Your Safe Space Counselling Studio in Girrawheen

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.

Psychologists 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 and can provide psychometric testing and write formal reports.

Psychologists use structured, evidence-based therapies. While 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, meaning the title "counsellor" isn’t legally protected. This makes it especially important for the client to choose counsellors who are registered with a professional body such as the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) or PACFA, which uphold training standards, ethics, and ongoing development.

Counsellors may hold a diploma, bachelor’s, or master’s degree and support people through challenges like grief, anxiety, relationship issues, stress, and life transitions. Counsellors typically work with individuals experiencing mild to moderate difficulties, offering 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 approaches to support insight, meaning-making, and meaningful change.

Some counsellors are 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.


Counsellor writing notes

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

Irvin D. Yalom


So, What’s the Difference in the Room?

Here are some key distinctions, with the understanding 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 a challenging task. It’s understandable to feel disheartened when time, effort, and money don’t yield the hoped-for changes, and to be tempted to give up.

But working on yourself is one of the greatest gifts you can give.

Therapy is never about “being fixed” but about softening the inner critic, making sense of your experiences, understanding the parts within you and how to set your boundaries.

It’s a personal journey of growth and self-compassion, where 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.

Motivational session

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 gauge 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.

If you need to reach out, there are many ways to find support, whether through a helpline,  support groups, your GP, or a counsellor.

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