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By Joseph Duong (Team Member)  When thinking if therapy is for you, there will be times when you’d wonder about your therapy provider. There will be some terminology in Australia regarding therapists depending on their educational background which leads to what they can offer you and in turn what you can benefit from them. What do they have in common? Firstly, we must look at what therapy means. Therapy is a form of treatment aimed to relieve emotional distress, mental health problems or to improve overall well-being. There can be many types of therapies; psychotherapy has an emphasis on feelings, thoughts and behaviours that can be utilised to improve you and are administered by professionals including counsellors, psychologists and psychiatrists (Healthdirect, 2019; Psychology Today, n.d.). General Practitioner Many times, your General Practitioner (GP) would be your first point of contact. They will be there to listen, advise and offer treatment as they are all trained in mental health (Radiant, n.d.). Some GPs can be qualified to offer in-depth mental health advise so it should be good to ask about their mental health training (Blashki, n.d.). Otherwise, they can refer you to specialised professional. You can also see one without a referral however you won’t be able to take advantage of the Medicare rebate available for psychologists, psychiatrists, occupational therapists and social workers. Counsellors or psychotherapists The counsellor and psychotherapist titles are unregulated in a way that some can complete a short course whilst others would have spent 6 years at university with a master’s degree (Willis, 2018). Nevertheless, counsellors and psychotherapists would have undergone countless training and are extremely important in the world of therapists. To be registered for Australian Counselling Association (ACA) or Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) there requires a set minimum training and ethical standards test. Counsellors and psychotherapists differ from others simply because of their background education which tends to be more practical, emotional and evidence-based (Radiant, n.d.). Counsellors and psychotherapists slightly differ by the method and subject matter. Counsellors specialise in practical and noticeable problems hence focus on trust and relationship building support (Radiant, n.d.). Psychotherapists deal deeper with psychological stress hence focus on past and beliefs. Both can utilise evidence-based practices such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Psychotherapists tend to incorporate alternative creative therapies such as art, music and dance in their practice. Psychologists The use of the title 'psychologist' is legally protected in Australia, and can only be used by professionals who meet the regulating national boards' requirements. Psychologists are registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and the Psychology Board of Australia (PsychBA), following completion of a minimum of 6 years' tertiary study and internship program. Completion of the National Psychology Exam is also required for psychologists registering after 1 July 2013. The continual use of the title 'psychologist' requires professionals meeting annual requirements set out by the national boards. Some psychologists with a Master, Doctorate, or Doctor of Philosophy degree may be endorsed with one or more specialised areas of study. Having an endorsement means the psychologist has completed a national board approved tertiary study program in an area of endorsement, and has also completed a registrar program of up to 3000 hours. Areas of endorsement are:
Psychology has many areas of study which leads to a variety of jobs that exists now. Many endorsed psychologists are experts in behaviour work with severe cases of mental illness (clinical psychologists) or they can work with mentally healthy people in the workplace (organisational psychologists). Many specialise with specific demographics like children (educational and developmental psychologists), the justice system (forensic psychology) or in developing healthier interventions for the public (health psychologists). Psychologists, like counsellors, can offer talk therapies but can work with coping strategies, provide psychological assessments, testing and developing interventions and programs (Radiant, n.d.). Psychiatrists Psychiatrists are like medical psychologists, meaning they can prescribe medicine as well as do psychotherapy. There is a strong emphasis on the collaboration between psychologists and psychiatrists for updates on forms of treatments (medicine or therapy) and their successes. Because they are doctors, they would have completed a minimum 11 years of training including medical school, placements in hospitals or private practice, followed by postgraduate studies to be registered via the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP). Psychiatrists have a medical background and a deep understanding of relationships between biological and psychological to then diagnose and treat psychiatric issues (Willis, 2018). Because of their extensive medical training, they are suited for complex mental or biological health conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe depression, eating disorders and addiction (Radiant, n.d.; Willis, 2018). Others In terms of mental health care, there are so many that utilise parts of psychological or counselling techniques. Some rely heavily on it including social workers and occupational therapists, whilst others are focused on work or life improvements such as coaches and mentors. Part of partaking in therapy is finding whether there is chemistry with the therapists and with such diverse background’s counsellors, psychologists and psychiatrists can have, they offer their invaluable incentives to client compatibility. Knowing what therapy each profession uses, as well as who they work with and their educational background can really help you narrow the situation down to seeking out effective therapy. Each profession has a role which fundamentally helps each other all the while helping individuals and society function as a better person than they ever were. References: Healthdirect. (2019). Psychotherapy. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/psychotherapy#:~:text=Psychotherapy%20is%20a%20group%20of,to%20work%20towards%20changing%20these Psychology Today. (n.d.). Therapy. https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/basics/therapy Radiant. (n.d.). Counsellor, Psychologist or Psychiatrist: What’s the difference? https://myradiant.com.au/2020/11/23/counsellor-psychotherapist-psychologist-or-psychiatrist-whats-the-difference/?fbclid=IwAR1lwKCFCG_5e9xwz30LcAhu7gdqiaLoYrn3ZjZYB6jGnAtRekfdVqIPoUc Willis, O. (2018). What you need to know when choosing a mental health professional. ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). https://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2017-12-04/choosing-a-mental-health-professional/9189026 |
Lily Phan PsychologyLily has almost a decade of field experience working with children and parents, adolescents, adults, and families in private practice, hospital, and community settings. Lily is passionate about her work as a psychologist and believes in the value of therapy not only for reducing symptoms and improving mental health, but also for clients to learn skills and tools to create more fulfilling and meaningful lives. Archives
February 2021
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