Counsellor Vs Psychologist: Which Do You Need?

Today, we will explain the differences between a counsellor and a psychologist to help you decide which treatment to seek.

Counsellors are experts in broad areas, whereas psychologist have additional training and education on certain aspects of mental health.

Let’s break down the three defining characteristics of counsellors and psychologist:

1. Counsellors are prepared to handle a wide range of patients, dealing with issues such as, grief & anger, family issues, relationship issues, stress management, daily stressors and guiding patients in going through challenging life stages through thorough thought processing activities, etc. Psychologists, on the other hand, focus more on complex and severe mental illnesses.

2. Counsellors cannot diagnose mental illness, while psychologists can. Psychologist are able to give psychometric assessment, while counsellors are limited with the test they can give. Thus, often times, counsellors work closely with psychologist if the patients present symptoms of chronic mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.

3. A counsellor generally concentrates on the present conditions. It could be an issue at home, work, traumatic event, relationship issues, stress and job loss. A counsellor pinpoint signs and behaviours and how it is affecting your daily activities. Psychologists are more science focused and trained to solve complex mental health conditions such as personality disorders, major depressive disorders, etc. Most of the psychologists are focused on specific mental health issues.

So, below are some of the questions that can help you decide which one you need:

• What are my present problems? If you are aware of your previous or current struggles (e.g. depression, anxiety or anger) you should search for a clinician who has experience with these diagnoses. If you are not sure where to start, consult a counsellor to guide you through.

• Do I need a diagnosis?

• Is there a need for medication? Prescribed medication(s) for mental health can only be prescribed by a psychiatrist.

• What issues you would like to address in therapy?

• What type of therapeutic relationship interests you?

• Which therapist best meets your need?

When it comes to your mental or emotional issues, only you can decide what type of treatment suits you best. If you don’t know where to start, feel free to drop us an email.