Counselling and psychology are often used interchangeably, but these two disciplines are not the same.
- Psychologists are required to complete postgraduate training in psychology and specialise in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental illness, emotional disorders, and behavioral problems. Treatment sessions involve long-term consultations and exist in a range of specialties. Therapy helps clients understand how longstanding thoughts, feelings and behaviours contribute to or intensify psychological problems. Given their extended training and education, psychologists are qualified to develop, research, and administer specialised psychological tests and are more likely to work with individuals who have a diagnosable mental illness.
- Training for counsellors in Australia can vary. Some counsellors may have completed a short course, while others may be educated at a postgraduate level. Counselling typically involves short term consultations with a counsellor or psychologist. These consultations are used to deal with immediate issues such as processing grief or anger, working through relationship struggles, making important personal or professional decisions, or improving stress management.
If you are still not sure whether you should book a consultation with a counsellor or psychologist in Sydney, consider the nature of the difficulty you are facing. If you are struggling to deal with short term issues, you may benefit from booking a counselling session with one of our qualified counsellors below. If your counsellor believes you would benefit more from seeing a psychologist, they will discuss this option with you.
