There is a difference between:
Counsellor: A person who provides a counselling service. Counselling is a non-government regulated profession,
no formal training is necessary, and professional review of ability and safety to practise is optional.
Counsellors are not eligible for Medicare or private health rebates.
Psychiatrist: A medical doctor with additional training in psychology.
Psychiatrists are able to prescribe medication and are eligible for Medicare rebates.
Psychologist: A university-trained mental health professional.
Psychologists are eligible for Medicare rebates and must be registered with AHPRA (see below).
Counsellor: A person who provides a counselling service. Counselling is a non-government regulated profession,
no formal training is necessary, and professional review of ability and safety to practise is optional.
Counsellors are not eligible for Medicare or private health rebates.
Psychiatrist: A medical doctor with additional training in psychology.
Psychiatrists are able to prescribe medication and are eligible for Medicare rebates.
Psychologist: A university-trained mental health professional.
Psychologists are eligible for Medicare rebates and must be registered with AHPRA (see below).
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AHPRA Registration requires:
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Psychologist:
Minimum four years university training in psychology and two years of supervised practice working as a Psychologist.
Clinical Psychologist:
A registered psychologist with two more years university training in serious mental illnesses, and two years supervised practice working as a Clinical Psychologist. Eligible for higher Medicare rebates and all private health rebates.
Minimum four years university training in psychology and two years of supervised practice working as a Psychologist.
Clinical Psychologist:
A registered psychologist with two more years university training in serious mental illnesses, and two years supervised practice working as a Clinical Psychologist. Eligible for higher Medicare rebates and all private health rebates.
Why not just read a self help book or talk to people I already know?
If it works for you, by all means keep doing it. However, no amount of reading the manual will help you confidently drive a car. Ultimately you need to get in the car and drive, at first with an experienced person to guide you.
Working with a psychologist gives you access to professional knowledge and experience, a caring but impartial perspective, and non-judgemental warmth while you make change in your life.
If it works for you, by all means keep doing it. However, no amount of reading the manual will help you confidently drive a car. Ultimately you need to get in the car and drive, at first with an experienced person to guide you.
Working with a psychologist gives you access to professional knowledge and experience, a caring but impartial perspective, and non-judgemental warmth while you make change in your life.
Psychological therapy hasn't worked for me before, why would it be different this time?
Successful therapy requires a secure and trusting relationship, and every time we meet a new person we build a new relationship. It might take a few tries to find the psychologist and treatment approach that is right for you.
Successful therapy requires a secure and trusting relationship, and every time we meet a new person we build a new relationship. It might take a few tries to find the psychologist and treatment approach that is right for you.