Counsellor, therapist, psychologist, coach, practitioner. In ordinary speech they get used interchangeably, and in Australia only some of them mean something specific.
"Psychologist" is a protected title: it requires AHPRA registration, and using it without that is an offence. "Counsellor", "therapist" and "coach" are not protected. Anyone can print them on a card. That is not an accusation — many are well trained — but you should know which category you are dealing with.
Psychologist. Assessment and treatment of mental health conditions, with a registered scope. Some work is claimable with a GP referral under a mental health plan.
Counsellor or psychotherapist. Talking work with an individual or a couple, often focused on a situation rather than a diagnosis. Governed by associations rather than AHPRA.
Coach. Goal and performance oriented. Not a health service, and should not be presented as one.
Body-based practitioners. Acupuncture, massage and similar. Useful where stress has lodged physically; not a substitute for the talking work when the issue is the situation.
A specific relationship that is in trouble: someone who works with both people in the room. A pattern that repeats across every relationship: individual work, longer. Diagnosed depression or anxiety: start with your GP, and a psychologist. A workplace that is grinding you down: sometimes this is not a health problem at all, and the honest answer involves the workplace.
Anyone who promises an outcome. Anyone who will not say what they are qualified in. Anyone who discourages you from also seeing your doctor.
We work with relationships, work and the ordinary strain of being a person among other people. We are not a crisis service and we do not diagnose. If what you describe needs a psychologist or a GP, that is what we will say — and if you are in distress now, Lifeline is on 13 11 14 at any hour.
