Need to get things off your chest? Choose the right Pro by learning the difference between psychologist and psychotherapist
Picture this.
You have a lot going on. So many thoughts swirling in your head all at once.
Sam said something the other day about the way women are supposed to show up in the world. After chewing on a few of the points Sally shared, you felt even more overwhelmed keeping things to yourself. You wanted to find someone to bounce all these ideas off of, though at the same time you were so afraid of saying the wrong things. You want to connect with someone who’ll understand youth, gender identity, and personal exploration.
Turns out there is a smorgasbord of options, and now you’re wondering whether you should be seeing a psychologist, psychotherapist, registered therapist, a coach, a mental health therapist, a psychoeducator..
Oh my...
Well, if you’re as overwhelmed as I was many years ago, you’re at the right place.
I felt super confused as well when I started looking for someone to talk to many years ago.. Flash forward many years and a career change later, I feel more at ease with the lingo and know who to go for what.
And now, I will share the difference between psychologist and psychotherapist
Along the way, let’s dispel some myths about mental health practitioners… So that we can provide some clarity for you in your search
Before delving into the difference between psychologist and psychotherapist…
Do you know that there are over 70 professional titles within the counselling profession in Canada. It spans all the way from career counsellor, trauma therapist, to psychologist and psychotherapist.
That is why it is *not a surprise at all* that millions of Canadians cited “feeling overwhelmed and not knowing where to go” as the primary reasons they ended up handling things on their own.
Granted, mental health isn’t like a headache where you can take Advil and voila!
There is no one-size-fits all solutions to mental health. So, knowing who to go for what would be a helpful step towards the right direction.
“What’s the difference between psychologist and psychotherapist?”
This is a question I got asked a lot.
So, let’s peel off the difference between psychologist and psychotherapist on our home turf, Vancouver BC
I’d say that both terms can be used interchangeably to refer to trained mental health professionals. The greatest difference between psychologist and psychotherapist is the amount of schooling and what they are qualified to treat.
In Canada, a psychologist is a regulated mental health professional who holds a doctoral degree in psychology like PhD, PsyD, or EdD. They can assess, diagnose, and treat mental health challenges. Some of the most common specializations for psychologist are:
Neuropsychology
Child psychology
ADHD
Addictions and trauma
Autism
Psychologist are trained in the use of medication and diagnoses of mental health conditions. Though, they are NOT licensed to prescribe medication the way psychiatrist are.
After peeling off the difference between psychologist and psychotherapist.
Let’s get up close with what psychotherapist is about
In Canada, someone can practice as a psychotherapist after completing a Master’s or Doctoral degree training. There are several ways people with this title call themselves: counsellor, therapist, psychotherapist…
It’s just a paraphrase way of saying something
Our role would be similar though, we focus on providing therapeutic support to individuals, families, or groups. We do this by listening to what clients have to share and be in the moment. Our focus is helping someone untangle their invisible web of thoughts, feelings, and sensations.
We are able to do this because we were trained in certain therapy modalities or techniques. Each modality teaches us some theories on how to see the world, ourselves, and the world around us.
As a psychotherapist Vancouver practicing from AEDP standpoint, the modality helps me connect to my client’s suffering and understand their history better. That way, I am able to visualise possible routes to expose them to.
The difference between psychologist and psychotherapist: Our regulation
Unlike psychologists that are regulated nationwide, the profession of psychotherapy is not. In the province of BC where I reside, the title is not protected. Meaning, anyone can just put up a shingle and call themselves a psychotherapist….
This is exactly why I am super passionate about sharing this so that you can make the most informed decision for yourself.
The difference between psychologist and psychotherapist: Is one better than the other?
In a lot of cases, you need to look beyond the surface and actually take a peek at someone’s training and education section.
Also, whenever we talk about the difference between psychologist and psychotherapist, just because a psychologist has higher education than psychotherapy does not mean that one is better than the other.
To be fair, I am not saying that MA-level training is a sure guarantee that a psychotherapist will do magic for you. It also goes back to whether the two of you are a fit and vibe with each other.
Poke, poke, I wrote a few other articles to make your search for therapist easy:
Yaas, I am a huge believer that trust plays a huge factor in determining whether therapy will work or not. In a fancier academic way, we call it therapeutic alliance.
I like to think of analogies. So, it’s like someone who wants to be a Michelin star pastry baker. Getting trained in and obtaining a culinary diploma from the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu is not an absolute guarantee someone will have a successful career in the food industry.
Same thing here, a psychotherapist can go to the best counselling school and be trained under one of the most famous figure in the industry. Though if they don’t have the basic skills and talents, all the extra sparkles will be to no avail.
The difference between psychologist and psychotherapist: Is psychologist more costly?
Mental health professionals running their own private practice have a degree of liberty in setting their own rate. That’s why, if you are exploring options, you may notice a range…
Our regulatory body may provide a suggested fee schedule, though ultimately, each practitioner has their own autonomy to set their own.
Take for example, the going rate (as of this writing) to access a psychologist in private practice is $235 per hour. This fee is applicable to individual sessions and consultation with third parties. Keep in mind that I source this information from what I found and heard from personal psychologist colleagues. The fee for assessment services and court appearances would be different. For more info, check out this page.
The going range for psychotherapist is 140 to 250 per hr based on many factors (years of experience, specialty, etc)…
The difference between psychologist and psychotherapist: Is psychotherapist more worth it?
Hah, it’s so hard to say because I will go back to which professional will fit your needs.
And who you vibe with.
If you’re curious about the investment, it ranges all the way from 140 to 250 per hour. For more info, check out our fee guide that just got updated very recently.
The difference between psychologist and psychotherapist: Is therapy covered by MSP?
Well, very unfortunately, for those of us residing in Vancouver, anywhere in BC, our Medical Services Plan (MSP) does not cover the cost of therapy and assessment.
Same thing applies, there is no difference between psychologist and psychotherapist. Unless someone has extended benefits, our services are not publicly covered.
When people pay out of pocket, from what I know, it may be tax deductible.
Though, please please speak directly to your accountant about this and how to go about doing it if it is applicable to you.
Any verdict on the difference between psychologist and psychotherapist?
There you go. I have taken you on a bit of an adventure to get up close with the nuts and bolts of each mental health profession.
Now that you know the difference between psychologist and psychotherapist in terms of our training, scope of practice, competence, cost…
I hope you are more ready to tackle your mission to find someone who can best come alongside you and get things off your chest.
Hello, I’m Nita Agustin
Registered Clinical Counsellor based in Burnaby, BC
My jam is helping curious and questioning queer youth and young adults move from confusion to clarity.
Most of my clients shared feeling overwhelmed by the messages the world told them how they’re supposed to be. They do not want to be defined by what society told them about themselves.
In our work together, I guide clients in figuring out who they are, who they want to be, and how to get there. We do this by processing how their past impacted the way they live out their life today. From our work together, I noticed clients develop better self-awareness and experience improved quality of life as they can show up differently in their relationships.
I offer virtual and in-person sessions in Brentwood, North Burnaby. In the summer I also offer walk-and-walk in Confederation Park.
I am licensed to practise in BC, as well as all across Canada, so I support clients all over BC, all the way from Vancouver to Kitimat. Other than working with clients who reside in BC, I also can support clients who reside in Yukon Territories, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Newfoundland.
Check out my About me page to learn more about what I do and have to offer for you. Also, explore my Services page to see how I can guide you in making shifts in your life today. If you feel ready to discover ways to live life on your own terms, I welcome you to book an initial intake session. I am so stoked to meet you and start figuring out how you can show up as your best self!
Throughout this pandemic, I witnessed telehealth virtual sessions become more of a norm, and it has been super transformative seeing clients can access mental health services from the comfort of their home.
There are lots of different stereotypes out there, and society tells us who we are supposed to be and what we are supposed to do in the world. It can feel very overwhelming and confusing to compare our personal experience against those ideas. The thing is, you no longer have to be defined by what society tells you. It is your life to live, and you get to decide who get a say about your life.
