What Is the Difference Between a Psychologist, Counsellor, and Therapist?

If you have ever looked for mental health support, you have probably noticed how easily professional titles blur together. Psychologist, counsellor, social worker, psychotherapist. They sound interchangeable, but in Australia, the pathways to these roles differ.

At Integro Health, we believe that understanding these roles should not feel like decoding a wall of jargon. More importantly, we believe that no single professional title is inherently better than another. Instead, different pathways lead to a shared goal: helping you heal and grow.

Here is a plain guide to how these roles work, how they overlap, and how to find the practitioner who is the right fit for you.

Understanding the umbrella terms: psychotherapy vs counselling

To make sense of mental health titles, it helps to start with two broad categories of support: psychotherapy and counselling.

What is a psychotherapist?

“Psychotherapist” is an umbrella term. It refers to any trained healthcare professional who delivers structured psychological therapies to treat mental health conditions.

Because it is an umbrella term, many different professionals practise psychotherapy. This includes:

• Clinical psychologists and registered psychologists
• Accredited mental health social workers
• General practitioners (GPs) with advanced mental health training
• Psychiatrists
• Registered counsellors and psychotherapists

While their university degrees differ, these professionals often use the same evidence-based therapeutic modalities, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), or Schema Therapy.

What is a counsellor?

“Counselling” is also an umbrella term, but it generally refers to talk-based therapies designed to help you navigate life’s challenges. Counselling is not only for diagnosed mental health conditions. It is a supportive space to work through grief, relationship strain, stress, major life transitions, or simply to feel heard and supported during a difficult season.

The different professional pathways

While there is significant overlap in the therapies they deliver, practitioners arrive at their qualifications through different training pathways.

1. Psychologists (registered and clinical). In Australia, “psychologist” is a protected title registered under AHPRA. They complete a minimum of six years of university training and supervised practice. They are trained to assess, diagnose, and treat a wide range of mental health conditions using structured psychological therapies.
2. Accredited mental health social workers. These are university-trained allied health professionals who have completed additional specialised training in mental health. They look at the whole person, examining how psychological health intersects with social, family, and environmental factors. Like psychologists, they are approved providers under Medicare to deliver evidence-based psychological strategies.
3. General practitioners (GPs) with mental health training. Some GPs, like Dr Paul King at Integro Health, complete advanced training in Focussed Psychological Strategies such as CBT, mindfulness, and EMDR. This allows them to provide medical oversight alongside active psychotherapeutic treatment.
4. Registered counsellors and psychotherapists. These practitioners specialise in talk-based therapy and deeper, long-term therapeutic work. While the title “counsellor” is not government-regulated in Australia, reputable counsellors choose to register with professional bodies like PACFA or the ACA, which enforce strict training and ethical standards.
5. Psychiatrists. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who has completed specialist training in mental health. They can diagnose complex conditions, prescribe medication, and offer psychotherapy.

A side-by-side comparison

How to choose the right practitioner for you

Because different types of practitioners often deliver identical therapies, choosing the right person is rarely about their specific university degree. Instead, we recommend focusing on three factors.

1. Their areas of expertise. Individual therapists develop their own special interests, such as trauma, anxiety, relationship dynamics, or chronic pain. A practitioner’s specific experience with your concern is often the most important factor.
2. The modality they use. If you know you respond well to a specific type of therapy, like EMDR for trauma or CBT for anxiety, look for a practitioner trained in that modality, regardless of whether they are a psychologist, social worker, or GP.
3. Therapeutic fit. Research consistently shows that the relationship between you and your therapist is one of the most important predictors of successful therapy. You should feel safe, heard, and respected.

What about Medicare rebates?

In Australia, the Medicare rebate system is designed to help make therapy accessible.

• With a Mental Health Treatment Plan. If your GP writes a Mental Health Treatment Plan, you can access Medicare-rebated sessions with registered psychologists, clinical psychologists, and accredited mental health social workers.
• Private billing and health funds. Registered counsellors and psychotherapists are generally not covered by Medicare, though some private health insurance funds offer rebates depending on your level of cover.

How this works at Integro Health

At Integro Health in Eaton, we do not expect you to have this all figured out before you book. We work as an integrated team to ensure you receive holistic, coordinated care. Our team brings these diverse pathways together under one roof.

• Psychology: Brooke Eden, Nadia Aly, and Nicholas Kerr
• Social work and family therapy: Jools Fordyce
• General practice and psychotherapy: Dr Paul King, who can write Mental Health Treatment Plans and deliver Focussed Psychological Strategies like EMDR and CBT.

By looking at how your physical, mental, emotional, and social wellbeing connect, we help you find the right practitioner and the right therapeutic approach for your unique situation.

Ready to take the next step? Contact our team today to discuss which of our practitioners is the best fit for your goals.

Dr Paul King

General Practitioner

A childhood illness inspired Paul to become a doctor.

Paul studied medicine at the University of Western Australia. After graduation, he worked in multiple hospitals in Perth before moving to the Bunbury area in 2006 to complete his General Practice Fellowship training. Paul has made the Bunbury area his home, working for over 15 years in Eaton and Australind.

Paul’s special interest is mental health, especially the interaction between physical illness, mental health, social issues and relationships.

Paul combines his extensive General Practice experience with training in Focussed Psychological Strategies, including cognitive behavioural and mindfulness therapies and E.M.D.R.

Paul brings a calm and assuring demeanour to his practice, enabling clients to grow towards wellness in a safe environment effectively.