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Finding the right therapist for you
11/11/2024Back in July, we wrote about the different pathways towards mental health care available to those in Australia. Once you have found a pathway that works for you though, what next? What are the types of therapists who work here, and how do you decide which one will be the right fit for you? Read on.
When choosing between mental health professionals in Australia, it’s helpful to understand the roles of psychologists, social workers, and counsellors:
Psychologists: Registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), psychologists can diagnose and treat mental health conditions through evidence-based therapy, though they cannot prescribe medications.
Education: 4 year undergraduate degree/ masters degree/ PhD in Psychology, plus multiple hours of supervised practice
Work setting: hospitals, private practice clinics, private organisations, government/public sector including in health and education; psychologists can also work as trainers, organisational psychologists, researchers or teachers at the tertiary level
Registration: AHPRA, optional with APS, AAPi
Most registered psychologists are eligible to be registered Medicare providers but not all psychologists do this; many Medicare rebate providers work in private practice, for instance, and many psychologists working in the public sector choose not to
Social Workers: Accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), social workers address mental health in the context of social and environmental factors, offering counselling and support.
Education: bachelors or masters degree in Social Work
Work setting: government, private sector, not-for-profit organisations/NGOs, and schools; social workers may be skilled in case management, coordination, or counselling and therapy
Registration: AASW, optional ACWA, ACA, PACFA
Some social workers are AASW Accredited Mental Health Social Workers and may be eligible to provide Medicare rebates
Counsellors: Members of the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) or Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA), counsellors provide therapeutic support but do not diagnose.
Education: diploma, bachelors or masters degree in Counselling; some social workers also use the title Counsellor
Work setting: private practice, NGOs, and schools
Registration: ACA, PACFA
Counsellors (non Social Workers) do not provide Medicare rebates but may be able to provide private health insurance rebates in private practice
Finding the right fit often involves trying out different professionals and approaches to see which resonates best. Remember, it is the connection you feel with your therapist, the strength of the therapeutic relationship, and your sense of feeling heard and supported that matter the most regardless of what kind of mental health practitioner you choose to see.