Questions
What's the difference between a psychotherapist, psychologist, counsellor and psychiatrist?
In very simple terms:
A counsellor in the UK has undertaken counselling training and may be registered with a counselling organisation e.g. BACP. Counsellors provide a supportive relationship that allows clients to talk through problems. (Note: The word 'counselling' was adopted by Carl Rogers' to refer to his Person-Centred Therapy. Some practitioners use the word 'counselling' to mean psychotherapy; others view counselling as entirely different from psychotherapy. The term can thus be confusing and, for this reason, is not generally used on this website.)
A psychologist holds an undergraduate psychology degree and may be registered with the BPS. Some have additional training in an applied area of psychology (e.g. forensic, clinical or counselling). Psychologists are not medical doctors and are not generally qualified as psychotherapists. Most psychologists build their views of distress and behaviour, for example, on the clinical model. They develop their ideas of what is 'normal' from statistics and theories derived from experiments conducted on human and animal behaviour and the results of psychological tests (e.g. IQ and personality tests).
A psychiatrist holds a medical degree and has undertaken additional training in psychiatric medicine. Generally speaking, psychiatrists use the clinical model to view mental distress in terms of illness and diagnosis. They commonly prescribe psychiatric drugs, hospitalisation and other physical treatments to alter mood and behaviour. Some still prescribe ECT (Electro-Convulsive Therapy) and psycho-surgery (surgery that alters the brain). Psychiatrists use the phrase 'mental illness' but, as yet, have no 'cures' for the conditions they name. They vary in their belief in psychotherapy and are generally not qualified in psychotherapy. See psychiatry link.
A psychotherapist in the UK usually holds higher degrees specifically in the practice of psychotherapy and will usually be registered with an ethical body e.g. UKCP. Existential Psychotherapists who are registered are currently required to have undertaken a minimum of four years postgraduate training. In addition, for the duration of their training, they will have worked in a variety of settings and received several years of their own personal therapy in order to develop self-knowledge; expertise in empathy and relationship skills; and a thorough understanding of both psychotherapist and patient points of view. Whilst familiar with it, Existential Psychotherapists, do not use the clinical model. 'Existential Analyst' is a term that is interchangeable with 'Existential Psychotherapist'.
A psychoanalyst is a psychotherapist trained in a Freudian-derived psychotherapy called 'psychoanalysis'. Psychoanalysis generally uses the clinical model to view patient's emotions, thoughts and experiences. Psychodynamic psychotherapy is a derivative of psychoanalytic ideas.
Other types of therapist may be trained exclusively in various problem-solving techniques (e.g. EFT, EMDR, CBT, NLP) that are applied from standard treatment manuals mainly emerging from the US, and some are available as self-help books and computer programs.
It is wise to gain a clear understanding of what a practioner does before undertaking work with them.
What's the difference between a psychotherapist, psychologist, counsellor and psychiatrist?
In very simple terms:
A counsellor in the UK has undertaken counselling training and may be registered with a counselling organisation e.g. BACP. Counsellors provide a supportive relationship that allows clients to talk through problems. (Note: The word 'counselling' was adopted by Carl Rogers' to refer to his Person-Centred Therapy. Some practitioners use the word 'counselling' to mean psychotherapy; others view counselling as entirely different from psychotherapy. The term can thus be confusing and, for this reason, is not generally used on this website.)
A psychologist holds an undergraduate psychology degree and may be registered with the BPS. Some have additional training in an applied area of psychology (e.g. forensic, clinical or counselling). Psychologists are not medical doctors and are not generally qualified as psychotherapists. Most psychologists build their views of distress and behaviour, for example, on the clinical model. They develop their ideas of what is 'normal' from statistics and theories derived from experiments conducted on human and animal behaviour and the results of psychological tests (e.g. IQ and personality tests).
A psychiatrist holds a medical degree and has undertaken additional training in psychiatric medicine. Generally speaking, psychiatrists use the clinical model to view mental distress in terms of illness and diagnosis. They commonly prescribe psychiatric drugs, hospitalisation and other physical treatments to alter mood and behaviour. Some still prescribe ECT (Electro-Convulsive Therapy) and psycho-surgery (surgery that alters the brain). Psychiatrists use the phrase 'mental illness' but, as yet, have no 'cures' for the conditions they name. They vary in their belief in psychotherapy and are generally not qualified in psychotherapy. See psychiatry link.
A psychotherapist in the UK usually holds higher degrees specifically in the practice of psychotherapy and will usually be registered with an ethical body e.g. UKCP. Existential Psychotherapists who are registered are currently required to have undertaken a minimum of four years postgraduate training. In addition, for the duration of their training, they will have worked in a variety of settings and received several years of their own personal therapy in order to develop self-knowledge; expertise in empathy and relationship skills; and a thorough understanding of both psychotherapist and patient points of view. Whilst familiar with it, Existential Psychotherapists, do not use the clinical model. 'Existential Analyst' is a term that is interchangeable with 'Existential Psychotherapist'.
A psychoanalyst is a psychotherapist trained in a Freudian-derived psychotherapy called 'psychoanalysis'. Psychoanalysis generally uses the clinical model to view patient's emotions, thoughts and experiences. Psychodynamic psychotherapy is a derivative of psychoanalytic ideas.
Other types of therapist may be trained exclusively in various problem-solving techniques (e.g. EFT, EMDR, CBT, NLP) that are applied from standard treatment manuals mainly emerging from the US, and some are available as self-help books and computer programs.
It is wise to gain a clear understanding of what a practioner does before undertaking work with them.
Stephen Forrest
Existential Analysis, Psychotherapy & Personal Development
Existential Analysis, Psychotherapy & Personal Development
.jpg)
Unfinished Man
Black Ink Monotype
Copyright © 1998 Stephen Forrest
Black Ink Monotype
Copyright © 1998 Stephen Forrest
Copyright © 2006 Stephen Forrest.
All rights reserved.
All rights reserved.