Demystifying Mental Health Professionals: The Difference between Psychiatrists, Psychologists, and Counsellors

When it comes to discussing mental health services, people often ask questions like “What is the difference between a psychologist and a counsellor?” and “Can psychologists write prescriptions?”.

There are several terms used to describe mental health service providers (e.g., psychologist, counsellor, psychiatrist, therapist, psychotherapist, etc.), and it is challenging to know the different meanings behind each of these terms. Although often used interchangeably, these terms are professional titles that describe three distinct types of mental health providers. The most important distinction between these providers is their training and the services they are qualified to offer. Here, we will focus on three commonly used terms and types of mental health providers in Canada: psychiatrists, psychologists, and counsellors.

Psychiatrists have a degree in medicine, like a family doctor or primary care physician (i.e., an MD).

• Psychiatrists complete an undergraduate degree, four years of general medical school, and five years of specialized training in psychiatry before they are licensed to practice in Canada. 

• Their area of expertise is the diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders, with a specific focus on treating and managing mental health disorders through medication. 

• They are the only mental health professionals qualified to prescribe medication. Psychiatrists’ role is typically to prescribe, monitor, and adjust medications for their patients, so their patient appointments tend to be briefer than talk therapy appointments. 

• Although psychiatrists specialize in the treatment of complex mental health disorders through medication, this is not all they do. Psychiatrists can also conduct mental health assessments, diagnose mental health disorders, and provide therapy.

Psychologists do not attend medical school, but have PhD in psychology.

• Psychologists complete an undergraduate degree, a 2-3 year Masters Degree in Clinical or Counselling Psychology, a 4-6 year PhD in Clinical or Counselling Psychology. To become a psychologist in BC, and in most provinces in Canada, a PhD is required.  

• Their area of expertise is in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders, with a specific focus on treating mental health disorders through therapy. 

• They are also trained and qualified to administer a wide range of psychological assessments (they can administer tests of intelligence, personality, mental health, academic achievement, and more) and in diagnosing mental health disorders. 

• They may be knowledgeable of medication, but cannot issue a prescription nor provide recommendations around medication; if necessary, they coordinate with other health professionals (such as psychiatrists) to ensure that their clients have access to medication if needed.

Counsellors typically have a Masters degree in psychology.

• Counsellors complete an undergraduate degree, and usually a 1.5-3 year Masters degree in Counselling, Clinical, or Educational psychology. 

• Counsellors specialize in supporting and treating people with various mental health concerns and help clients develop the insights and skills needed to understand and manage their difficulties.

• Counsellors are not qualified to prescribe medication, provide psychological assessments, nor provide mental health diagnoses.

Did you know? 

Psychologist and psychiatrist are professional, protected titles in British Columbia; it is illegal to call yourself a psychologist or a psychiatrist without the proper qualifications. This helps ensure that individuals who refer to themselves using these terms are qualified competent to provide the mental health services that they advertise.

• Psychologists are licensed and regulated by the College of Psychologists of BC 

• Psychiatrists are licensed and regulated by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC. 

Counsellor and therapist, on the other hand, are not protected terms in BC. This means that someone can call themselves a “Clinical Counsellor” or “Psychotherapist” without having any formal or specialized training in mental health. However, if someone refers to themselves as a Registered Clinical Counsellor, and has a registration number attached to their professional title, this means that the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors has verified that the counsellor has at least a Masters degree in their area of psychology. While the terms counsellor and therapist do not guarantee that someone has appropriate training in mental health, the phrase Registered Clinical Counsellor provides assurance that the counsellor has met a minimum standard of education. 

When it comes to picking a mental health professional, it is always worth educating yourself on who exactly is best to meet your needs. Click to learn more about how you can access high-quality wellness education and to learn more about our wellness education speakers — their education and qualifications are on each of their individual pages! Get started with booking your next mental health and wellness speaker here.

By:

Nicole Legg, MSc., WellIntel Talks CEO, Expert Speaker and PhD Candidate in Clinical Psychology

Rachel Mallinson, BA., WellIntel Talks Intern