Who Does What in Mental Health?

🧭 Who Does What in Mental Health?

A simple guide to finding the right professional for you

When life feels heavy, reaching out for help is a big step — but choosing who to go to can feel confusing. Counsellors, psychotherapists, psychologists, clinical psychologists, psychiatrists — they all “do therapy,” right?

Yes, they all help people heal and grow, but they differ in training, approach, and systemic role. Understanding these differences can make your first step toward support a little clearer and less overwhelming.

If you’re in crisis: Call 000, Lifeline 13 11 14, or Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467.

🩺 The Quick Summary

• Need medication or complex diagnosis? → Psychiatrist
• Want structured, evidence-based therapy with possible Medicare rebate? → Psychologist or Clinical Psychologist
• Want in-depth, relational, or trauma-informed talk therapy? → Counsellor or Psychotherapist
• Unsure where to start? → GP (they can assess and refer you)

Different professionals can help in different ways — from medication to self-understanding — and knowing who to start with can make your journey easier.

🔍 The Main Roles Explained

1. Counsellor

• What they do: Offer a supportive, confidential space to talk, unpack emotions, and build coping strategies. Counsellors help with anxiety, stress, grief, relationships, self-esteem, and life transitions.
• Training: Diploma to Master’s level, usually with supervised placements.
• Regulation: Self-regulated; many register with PACFA or ACA.
• Medicare: Not usually rebated under Better Access (some may be covered by private health insurers).
• Approach: Practical, goal-oriented, short- to medium-term work.
• Example: Someone who recently moved to a new country feels homesick and anxious. They choose to see a counsellor to process their feelings and learn grounding tools.

2. Psychotherapist

• What they do: Work at greater emotional depth, exploring long-term patterns, attachment, trauma, and meaning. Therapy is often relational and process-oriented, helping clients understand the roots of their difficulties.
• Training: The term psychotherapist is not legally regulated in Australia, but those who are registered psychotherapists with PACFA undertake post-qualification training that includes advanced theoretical learning, extensive supervised clinical practice, and personal psychotherapy. This ongoing formation emphasises both clinical competence and the therapist’s own self-awareness and depth of relational work.
• Approach: Draws from modalities such as Psychodynamic, Jungian Analytical, Gestalt, Existential, Integrative, or Somatic therapy.
• Regulation: Self-regulated through PACFA, under national Counselling and Psychotherapy Standards (2025).
• Medicare: Not typically covered under Better Access (some private health rebates may apply).
• Example: A person realises they often repeat painful patterns in relationships. Through psychotherapy, they explore early experiences and underlying emotions shaping these patterns.

🪞Note: Counsellors and psychotherapists often work with the same issues as psychologists — such as anxiety, depression, trauma, or grief. The difference lies mainly in depth, diagnostic authority, and funding, not in the type of problem addressed.

3. Psychologist

• What they do: Assess, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions using evidence-based methods like CBT, ACT, DBT, or EMDR.
• Training: At least six years (Honours + supervised practice or Master’s).
• Regulation: AHPRA-registered (protected title).
• Medicare: Yes — eligible with a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) under Better Access (currently up to 10 individual and 10 group sessions per year).
• Approach: Structured, goal-focused, short- to medium-term therapy, often supported by measurable outcomes.
• Example: An individual experiencing frequent panic attacks visits their GP, who refers them to a psychologist for cognitive behavioural therapy and coping strategies.

4. Clinical Psychologist

• What they do: Support people with complex or chronic mental health experiences. Offer comprehensive assessments, formulation, and therapy for issues like trauma, personality disorders, bipolar, or severe depression.
• Training: 8+ years — Master’s or Doctorate in Clinical Psychology plus supervised practice.
• Regulation: AHPRA-registered with Clinical Endorsement.
• Medicare: Yes — eligible for a higher rebate under Better Access.
• Approach: Evidence-based, formulation-driven, and often collaborative with GPs or psychiatrists.
• Example: Someone who has tried medication and therapy but continues to struggle with low mood is referred to a clinical psychologist for in-depth assessment and trauma-focused treatment.

5. Psychiatrist

• What they do: Medical doctors who diagnose mental illness, prescribe medication, and may provide psychotherapy.
• Training: Medical degree + 5+ years of psychiatric specialisation.
• Regulation: AHPRA (medical specialist).
• Medicare: Yes — specialist rebates available with referral.
• Approach: Medical, biological, and sometimes integrative.
• Example: A person experiencing significant mood swings and disrupted sleep consults their GP, who refers them to a psychiatrist for medication review and ongoing care.