Difference between a Psychologist and a Psychotherapist

I've been working hard over the last few months completing my studies. In just under three weeks time, I will be a registered Psychotherapist. I am sure some of you are wondering, as I get asked this all the time, what is a psychotherapist and how do they differ from a psychologist...

Let me explain this as simply as possible.

If you study psychology, majority of the earlier years centre around research and statistics. Essentially, you learn how to become a researcher. Thus, not all psychologists go on to be therapist. For psychologists who do go on to complete clinical training (to become a therapist), they are generally taught to apply a scientific approach to helping people understand and manage behaviour. They usually conceptualise through a medical model of treatment and in most cases can diagnose mental illness. Psychologist can currently offer rebates under the medicare mental health plan.

A psychotherapist skips the research and statistics (although I did write a mini research paper) and goes straight to the therapy part. They are focused very much on the therapeutic relationship as a means to understand the person. Rather than focusing on and diagnosing certain problems, they are often more focused on the person and their context, as a way of understanding them and what they need. In my experience, psychotherapist tend to think more holistically (although, there are some wonderful psychologist out there who are breaking the mould). In the same way that a psychologist would, psychotherapist works with all kinds of mental health issues.

They cannot diagnose or prescribe medication and are not yet recognised for rebates under the mental health plan as they are still considered an alternative treatment modality. Generally speaking, if you book a session with a psychotherapist, it will be very relational. You can expect good old fashion talk therapy and in some cases the inclusion of more somatic/body based practice.

Interested in psychotherapy?

Book a 15 minute discovery call by submitting the form on my website here.

Currently offering sessions via Telehealth.