Psychotherapist vs psychologist: What's the difference?

If you’ve ever searched for mental health support online, you’ve probably come across the terms psychotherapy, psychologist, and psychotherapist—and felt more confused than when you started. It’s not always obvious who does what, or which type of therapist is the right fit for you.

At first glance, psychotherapy and psychology can seem almost interchangeable. After all, both aim to help people heal, feel better, and think in healthier ways. And since psychotherapy is a branch of psychology, some overlap is natural.

Stick with me as we unpack the similarities and differences between a psychotherapist vs psychologist.

How are psychologists and psychotherapists similar?

Psychologists and psychotherapists share important similarities:

• Both provide talk therapy sessions to support emotional wellbeing.

• They help clients explore thoughts, emotions, and behaviours.

• Sessions often involve building trust, setting goals, and working through personal challenges over time.

Still, the difference between a psychotherapist and a psychologist becomes important when considering things like diagnosis, Medicare rebates, and formal mental health assessments.

It’s also important to note that while a psychologist can be trained in methods of psychotherapy, not all psychotherapists are psychologists.

Quick comparison: Psychotherapist vs psychologist

Below is an overview of the differences between the two professions. However, we’ll discuss them in greater detail in the sections that follow.

When choosing a mental health professional, it’s important to consider not only the cost of therapy but also the therapist’s expertise, experience, and your specific concerns.

Ultimately, you’d want a therapist who aligns with your needs and with whom you feel connected and safe.

What is a psychotherapist?

A psychotherapist is someone trained in talk therapy and other therapeutic techniques designed to help individuals, couples, or groups work through emotional or psychological challenges.

Psychotherapists focus deeply on helping clients understand past experiences, unconscious patterns, and inner emotional struggles. Their goal is not only symptom relief but long-term emotional growth and self-awareness.

Some psychotherapists begin their careers as counsellors, doctors, or even in fields outside of healthcare, before completing training in psychotherapy.

What is pschotherapy?

Psychotherapy is a structured approach to healing emotional distress by exploring the connections between thoughts, emotions, past experiences, and behaviours.

Unlike brief counselling sessions that may focus on immediate problems, psychotherapy often works at a deeper level—helping people resolve trauma, manage complex emotions, and build a stronger sense of self over time.

There are many different methods used in psychotherapy, including:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: By allowing the patient to talk freely, a psychotherapist can analyse the link between a person’s thoughts, feelings, and actions and how they impact their wellbeing and perception of the world.

• Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy: Same techniques as CBT are used, but with mindfulness tactics. This can be activities such as journaling, meditation, or yoga.

• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy: Another branch off from CBT, this type not only analyses a client’s thinking but also integrates positive behaviours to manage stress and emotions in a healthier way.

• Interpersonal Therapy: This type of therapy is an attachment-focused therapy centred around the connection between personal relationships and life difficulties and/or mental illnesses.

• Supportive Psychology: The most basic form of talk therapy. Supportive psychology focuses on allowing the client to talk freely about their mental health struggles and receive advice, encouragement, and support. 

• Family Therapy: Through the understanding that families function as a whole unit, family therapy aims to repair broken relationships and heal wounds. 

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: Through the lens of ‘radical acceptance’ this type of therapy guides a client in accepting difficult or stressful life circumstances and responding in more positive ways. 

• Psychodynamic Therapy: One of the most intense forms of therapy, a client is pushed to uncover why negative thinking patterns and behaviours arose in the first place. 

Who should see a psychotherapist?

With all the various techniques used, there are many situations in which seeing a psychotherapist is beneficial. These could be:

• Anxiety

• Panic attacks

• Eating disorders 

• Addiction 

• Depression

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

• Bipolar Disorder

• Borderline Personality Disorder 

• Phobias

• Schizophrenia 

• Psychotic disorders

When considering psychotherapy vs psychology, those seeking deeper exploration into emotional patterns may find psychotherapists particularly beneficial.

Benefits of psychotherapy

Research has been done to prove that in 75% of patients, psychotherapy relieved many distressing symptoms, helped clients understand themselves better, and provided them with healthy coping mechanisms for life down the road. 

Many people never get the chance to sit with their trauma and work through it in a positive way. More often than not, people cope with past hurt through unhealthy coping mechanisms such as drugs, alcohol, or sex. By allowing yourself the time and space to work through difficult memories of the past, you’re freeing your mind of any negative feelings you’re still holding on to. 

Psychotherapy has been shown to improve the way clients understand themselves, repair communication methods, and enhance healthy decision-making skills. 

How to become a psychotherapist in Australia

Interested in pursuing a career in psychotherapy? You’d be happy to know there are no specific qualifications given that the profession is not government-regulated in Australia. 

However, if you want to be professionally registered with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA), here are the steps to take:

1. Obtain a PACFA-accredited undergraduate degree.

2. Complete a specialised masters or postgraduate study.

3. Gain practical experience through supervised clinical hours.

4. Join and register with a professional body like PACFA or ACA (Australian Counselling Association).

What is a psychologist?

A psychologist is a highly trained mental health professional who assesses, diagnoses, and treats psychological conditions.

Psychologists in Australia are regulated by AHPRA and must meet strict educational, ethical, and clinical standards. They are qualified to perform detailed assessments, conduct therapy sessions, develop treatment plans, and help people build practical coping skills.

Their work may include clinical practice, educational settings, research, forensic evaluations, or organisational consulting.

What does a psychologist do?

Psychologists can work with individuals, couples, and groups. Their work usually involves:

• Diagnosing mental health conditions

• Providing evidence-based therapy

• Offering support for anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues, and more

• Conducting psychometric tests and formal assessments

• Creating self-care and relapse prevention plans

If you're seeking a diagnosis or hoping to access therapy under Medicare, a psychologist is the professional you'll likely need.

When it comes to the scientific roles that a psychologist can take, these roles include:

• Studying individual case studies 

• Studying groups

• Conducting ethical research 

• Conduct assessments or tests

• Studying mental and biological drives

• Investigate methods of learning and teaching, and develop better ways to learn in educational settings.

How to become a psychologist in Australia

Becoming a psychologist in Australia is a structured process that includes:

1. Completing a four-year accredited undergraduate psychology degree.

2. Completing either a two-year postgraduate Masters or Doctorate program, or two years of supervised practice (4+2 or 5+1 pathway).

3. Registering with the Psychology Board of Australia through AHPRA.

4. Continuing professional development (CPD) annually to maintain registration.

Psychologists often undergo further specialisations, like pursuing clinical psychology, counselling, or other practice endorsements.

Which professional is right for you?

Seeking help for your mental health is one of the bravest steps you can take. Understanding the difference between a psychotherapist and a psychologist helps ensure you choose the right path—one that matches both your current needs and your overall wellbeing goals.

• If you want a formal mental health assessment, structured treatment plans, or Medicare rebates to help with costs, seeing a psychologist is usually the right choice.

• If you’re looking to explore deeper emotional patterns, heal past experiences, or work through personal struggles over time without needing a formal diagnosis, a psychotherapist may be the better fit.

No matter what the situation is, you can find support, understanding, and guidance here on Talked.