Who’s Who in Mental Health?
In the world of mental health there are many types of mental health professionals and it can be easy to become lost in who does what, so here is a quick run-down of who’s who!
Often when people think of therapy and assessment it is often associated with professionals such as Psychologists, Provisional Psychologists (Training Psychologists), Psychiatrists, Psychotherapists, Counsellors. There are several similarities among these roles including the requirement for a higher education degree (often bachelors, masters or PhD level, sometimes with specialisation) as well as licensure and certification/credentials. Each of these professionals often focus on aiding clients to better understand and cope with thoughts, feelings and behaviours. Furthermore they all can often offer guidance and improve clients ability to work towards and identify meaningful goals in their lives while only some with more higher training offer assessment and diagnosis of mental health conditions.
Another key area in which these professions differ is in prescription and monitoring of medication necessary for managing some mental health conditions. Psychiatrists and pediatricians function within this domain due to their medical backgrounds. They primarily focus on management of medication prescribed, whilst also often offering assessment, diagnosis and therapy.
Another key difference is between Psychologists and Counsellors. Psychologists often utilise assessments to assess and manage symptoms while Counsellors often function from a more client-centred approach working with what is most pressing and distressing for you each session.
However, despite these differences often all these professions can overlap in several ways. When looking for a therapist check out our Team's page for profiles on each our clinicians, which may assist in choosing the best fit for you.
Hopefully this information helps determine which clinician may best serve your mental health needs.
