Psychologists Vs. Psychotherapists …
What is the difference?
People often ask what the difference is between a psychologist, psychotherapist, counsellor and psychiatrist. There are major differences in the training and standards prescribed by professional bodies that regulate these professions.
Additionally the methods of treatment may vary though many practitioners are fairly eclectic, that is they may utilise a number of treatment strategies to suit their client’s individual needs.
The following descriptions are an attempt to help clarify the confusion! They are quite general; there is tremendous variety as well as similarity in the way mental health professional’s work.
Psychologists
Psychology can be defined as the scientific study of behaviour. Psychologists have a rigorous background in the scientific study of human behaviour and their training reflects a strong emphasis on validity of measures and reliable evidence of effective interventions.
Training and professional standards
Psychologists typically undertake 4 to 6 years of formal tertiary study plus a prescribed number of years of work under professional supervision from another registered psychologist in order to qualify. It takes 4 years to register as a psychologist and 6 years with a masters degree to be admitted to the A.P.S.(Australian psychology society) as a member.
An undergraduate degree in psychology has a strong experimental and research basis. In the third and later years, areas of study that reflect specialisations are undertaken, thus psychologists can be found working in specialised areas such as:
Clinical and counselling psychology, industrial psychology, educational psychology, sports psychology, consumer psychology, community psychology, organisational psychology, forensic psychology, environmental psychology, experimental psychology, etc.
Although not a requirement, some psychologists who work psychodynamically have had their own psychotherapy and undertake regular clinical supervision or consultation to review their work with clients. This leads to greater effectiveness and therapeutic insights for their clients.
Treatment
Clinical and counselling psychologists usually provide psychological treatment from various orientations such as cognitive behavioural (CBT), and Gestalt, humanistic and client centred and psychodynamic approaches.
These and other theoretical stances really reflect a different way of understanding and describing clients’ issues.
Their fees are non claimable from medicare, but a small rebate (which is typically up to $500-$600.00 per annum per family or individual) is sometimes claimable if individuals have private extras health insurance.
Psychiatrists
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who have undertaken extra training in physiologically caused mental disorders. Psychiatrists may work in a number of settings or specialisations.
These settings can include hospitals, prisons, and private practice and include many specialties such as the management of schizophrenia, chromosomally induced mental disorders and legal work.
Training
Initially to train as a psychiatrist the individual must gain a medical degree followed by 5 years of psychiatric studies. Once an individual is qualified, regular professional development is discretionary. The professional organising body is the Royal Australian and new Zealand College of Psychiatrists (a psychiatrist is a Fellow of this body- FRANZP) This body maintains standards and guidelines for ethical behaviour.
Psychiatrists also work in varied settings and they (unlike psychologists, counsellors and psychotherapists) can prescribe drugs.
A psychiatrist’s fees, or part of her/his fees, may be claimed on Medicare if the patient has a referral from a GP
Some psychiatrists work as psychotherapists but are not required to have had their own psychotherapy and to undertake regular supervision, whilst some have and do. Psychiatrists like other mental health professionals employ a range of therapeutic interventions according to their patients’ needs.
Psychotherapists
Psychotherapists usually work with their clients for months or even years and attempt to help the client to positively reorganise negative experiences of themselves or others. In essence psychotherapy is an attempt to heal the “self” when the client is not functioning as well as they would like. A developmental perspective usually informs psychotherapy, but increasingly neurobiological research is substantiating and guiding the practice of psychotherapy.
Training
Psychotherapists usually have an approved tertiary degree, experience in the helping professions and personal suitability to become psychotherapists. Many psychologists and psychiatrists choose to practice psychotherapy and undertake training in this area. Training for psychotherapists is typically 3 to 4 years in addition to a degree, with a minimum of 2 years of their own therapy, plus regular (at least fortnightly supervision) by another experienced psychotherapist. There is often a very marked clinical
(experiential) bias to the training, with trainees often being taped whilst working with clients so that a microanalysis of their work can be done in order that they learn from closely scrutinising themselves.
Standards
Psychotherapists, to register as clinical members of an accredited *organisation must be engaged in a minimum of several hours a week conducting psychotherapy and undertake regular professional development in terms of reading, lectures, conferences and seminars. PACFA (Psychotherapists and Counsellors Federation of Australia) is the organisation to which counsellors and psychotherapists who meet these standards may belong either as individuals, or as part of accredited organisations. To register each organisation must have clear sets of guidelines for ethical behaviour.
PACFA was created to promote professional excellence and minimum training standards for mental health professionals (counsellors & psychotherapists), and as such is the representative body for these professions.
Treatment methods
Psychotherapists are trained in a number of psychodynamic theories, and there is quite passionate argument about which theory is the most correct! Many psychotherapists would agree they take from what theory seems most to fit and suit their clients at the time. Psychotherapists consider that “empathic fit” or the relationship between themselves and their client to be the most important determining factor influencing the effectiveness of the therapy.
For more information please look up http://www.pacfa.org.au
Counsellors
Counsellors have very varied training, from a Masters in counselling to a few weeks by correspondence, and at present in Australia any one can call themselves a counsellor or a psychotherapist.
PACFA has been set up to protect the public with regard to the standards and ethical training that should accompany these professions.
Broadly speaking counsellors tend to work in areas that are as broad and varied as those undertaken by psychologists, psychiatrists and psychotherapists.
To conclude
You can ask about the experience and training of your mental health consultant, and look up the organisation to which they are affiliated to check whether they are registered with PACFA, the APS or FRANZCP.
If you are contemplating therapy, particularly long term therapy, generally that therapy is better informed by a therapist who has had their own therapy and who seeks regular supervision and is able to separate their own issues from yours.
Source: http://depressionet.com.au/resources/psychs/therapydiff1.html
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