Finding appropriate mental health support can be challenging with many mentalhealth professions seemingly overlapping, ranging from counsellors and psychotherapists to psychiatrists and psychologists (and that’s just the beginning)!

There is also a jungle of terminology to get your head around before you start searching for the right type of treatment. Ensuring you can find someone who has suitable training and a background to match is essential and finding a person who you feel comfortable talking to is equally important.

On this page we will look at the most common professions within the mental health industry. We will explain what they do, how they can help and highlight the key differences between them.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is a term that covers all talking therapies and the many associated approaches/methods. Due to the broad use of the terms, the titles psychotherapist and counsellor are often used interchangeably with little or no difference between the two. To obtain the title of Psychotherapist/Counsellor, an individual would need to gain a degree in psychotherapy.

The aim of psychotherapy is to help clients overcome a wide scope of concerns. These concerns range from emotional difficulties to psychiatric disorders. Psychotherapists can train solely in psychotherapy. They may also cross over from other professional backgrounds within the mental health sector. Psychotherapists can choose from a wealth of approaches to help you understand and explore how you feel. Some therapists also teach skills to help you manage difficult emotions more effectively. For more severe conditions, such as psychosis, a psychotherapist will normally work with other professionals (such as psychiatrists). This allows for an effective, robust treatment plan.

A psychotherapist can work with individuals, groups, families or couples. Many tend to specialise in who they work with and what issues they address. For example psychotherapists can decide whether they work with children or adults. Psychotherapists will typically meet with clients on a regular basis (once a week is considered the norm). There are many different types of therapy that psychotherapists can train in.

They include:

Key points about psychotherapists:

Some of the issues addressed:

Work related issues:

The aim of both Psychotherapists/Counsellor is to create an environment in which you feel safe discussing your feelings. For this reason you need to develop a trusting relationship with your therapist. If you do not feel comfortable with your chosen Psychotherapist/Counsellor, discuss this in your next session. Alternatively, you could look to speak to a different professional.

Psychologist

Psychology is effectively the study of the way people think, behave and interact. Looking at the way the mind works, psychology covers everyday functioning such as learning and remembering. It also covers more complex mental health conditions. Psychologists are normally described as being ‘applied’ or ‘research-oriented’.

Those who are ‘applied’ will use their knowledge in a practical capacity to help patients. Those who are ‘research-oriented’ will aim to further society’s knowledge of the human mind.To obtain the title of psychologist, an individual would need to gain a degree in psychology. To become a counselling psychologist they will need a degree in psychology and a Doctorate in counselling psychology. Counselling psychologists are a fairly new group of applied psychologists. They blend therapeutic practice with psychological research and theory.

Counselling psychologists tend to deal with the same types of issues as counsellors. These include bereavement, trauma and relationship issues. They also take on more serious, long-term issues such as domestic violence and sexual abuse.

They will apply their understanding of the medical context and diagnosis of certain mental health problems in these cases. Psychologists can choose to specialise in a certain area of psychology. Many specialise in a particular type of assessment or therapy (for example CBT or neuropsychology). There are many titles within the psychology industry that are restricted by law in the UK.

These include:

Key points about psychologists:

Psychiatrist

A psychiatrist is someone who has had medical training and has decided to specialise in psychiatry. The term psychiatry refers to the study of mental disorders. This includes their diagnosis, management and prevention. Psychiatrists often work on a broad range of cases alongside an area of expertise and research.

Similar to general practice or paediatrics – psychiatry is a medical specialty. This means in order to be a psychiatrist you must train for five years as a doctor. A further two years of ‘foundation’ jobs is needed before specialising in psychiatry.

To become a fully trained psychiatrist it typically takes another four years of dedicated study. There is also an option to specialise further still. Psychiatry builds its knowledge by observing and researching various conditions. A diagnostic system aims to identify clusters of behaviours that occur together – commonly described as syndromes.

These are then researched to understand any social, psychological or physical causes, with a view of establishing an effective way of helping. Psychiatrists can work with people of any age. Yet they tend to work with those with more severe conditions and/or those that require medical intervention.

Within the specialty of psychiatry, there are a number of subspecialties. Each of these requires a Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (CCST).

Such sub-specialties include:

Normally, your GP (or other healthcare professional) will refer you to see a psychiatrist. However you can make an appointment with a private practice too. A psychiatrist may work on their own or alongside other health professionals (such as occupational therapists or social workers) depending on the circumstances.

As psychiatrists have medical training, they are able to do things other mental health professionals can’t. For example, a psychiatrist can carry out medical tests (i.e. blood tests and CAT scans). They can also prescribe medication should it be required.

Key points about psychiatrists: