All of these people help you when you’re struggling in life, and their roles overlap. However, each specialise in different types of help, and their levels of qualification vary.
A life coach can give you guidance and help you make plans. They generally don’t do therapy, but they can help you organise things and set goals. Life coaches are not required to be qualified, so if you choose a life coach, make sure you research them carefully.
A therapist is anyone who offers therapy, and there are lots of different types of therapists. Counsellors and psychologists are types of therapists. You are not required to have a qualification to claim to be a therapist, so if someone claims to be a therapist it is important to learn more about what type of therapist they claim to be, and what their qualifications are.
A counsellor is a person who offers therapy and counselling. To check if a person claiming to be a counsellor is qualified, you can check if they are registered with a professional organisation. The two counselling associations in Australia are the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) and the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA).
A social worker is a person who helps you to improve your life, particularly when you have personal or social problems. Mental health social workers are a type of social worker that can help you if you have a mental health problem, and some of them offer therapy. To check if a person claiming to be a social worker is qualified, you can check if they are registered with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).
A psychologist is a person who studies, diagnoses, or treats people’s emotions and thoughts, or how biological factors impact those things. In Australia, psychologists often provide diagnoses and therapy. If you see a GP, they can refer you to a psychologist using a GP Mental Health Care Plan, which might make therapy more affordable. It is illegal in Australia to claim to be a psychologist when you are not. If you want to confirm your psychologist is registered, you can check the Australian Psychological Society (APS).
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specialises in mental health conditions. In Australia, psychiatrists usually provide diagnoses and prescribe medication. Some can provide therapy. If your condition requires more specialist knowledge, your GP can refer you to a psychiatrist. It is illegal in Australia to claim to be a psychiatrist if you are not. If you want to confirm your psychiatrist is registered, you can check the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
