Types of mental health professionals

Written by Bonnie Gifford
Bonnie Gifford
Counselling Directory Content Team

Finding the right kind of mental health support for you can feel difficult. With so many different professionals, how do you know which is the right type for you? We explain more about the different professionals working within the mental health industry, what they do, how they can help, and what the differences are between them. 


What professionals can help with mental health?

There are many different professionals who can help with a variety of mental health concerns. These can range from counsellors and therapists to psychotherapists, psychiatrists, and psychologists. 

Ensuring you can find someone who has the right training and experience to help you is essential. It’s also just as important to find someone you feel comfortable working with and opening up to. It’s OK if you don’t click with a certain professional or even type of therapy. What is really important is that you keep looking until you find what is right for you. 

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Psychotherapist

Psychotherapy is a term that's used to describe talking therapies and the associated approaches/methods. Due to the broad use of the terms, the titles psychotherapist, therapist and counsellor may be used interchangeably by some.

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, however, it's likely that their work will be grounded in the psychodynamic approach. 

For more severe conditions, such as psychosis, a psychotherapist will typically 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).

Can anyone call themselves a psychotherapist?

There are currently no legal restrictions surrounding the title of psychotherapist. However, there are some titles within the field that are regulated/protected. This includes ‘registered psychotherapist’. Professional bodies such as the UKCP protect such titles. They ensure high standards of training with an emphasis on the safety of the practice.

You can find out more about registered/accredited titles on our professional bodies page.

What you need to know about psychotherapists

  • They help people with emotional/psychological concerns using talking therapies.
  • They may work within a team of other medical professionals.
  • They can choose to specialise in certain therapies.
  • Depending on their training, they can work with individuals, groups, families or couples.

Counsellor or therapist

A counsellor (also commonly referred to as a therapist) will utilise psychotherapy to help clients going through mental health difficulties. In some cases, professionals may choose to call themselves a psychotherapist. Others may refer to themselves as a counsellor or therapist.

Some experts believe that, while areas of the two professions overlap, psychotherapists work on longer-term concerns and have the training to reflect this. Others argue that there is little to no distinction between the professions. Many counsellors now undergo similar extensive training as psychotherapists. Checking a professional's experience, training and qualifications is always advised. This will give you a better understanding of how they can help support your needs.

When we talk about counselling, we are referring to one-to-one, group or couple meetings. In these settings, people are free to talk about their feelings to a trained professional. This takes place in a confidential environment.

A counselling session may simply involve the client and counsellor talking through concerns with no specified structure or agenda. Alternatively, a counsellor may use a specific form of psychotherapy to help the client.

There are many different areas counselling can help with, ranging from specific, diagnosable mental illnesses to general worries and work-related stress. These areas include: 

  • abuse
  • addictions
  • bereavement
  • depression
  • stress and anxiety
  • eating disorders
  • low self-confidence
  • relationship issues
  • work-related issues

There are also many different types of therapy that both counsellors and psychotherapists can train in. They include:

  • cognitive and behavioural therapies (focusing on the way people think and behave)
  • psychoanalytic therapies (looking at how past experiences affect the present)
  • humanistic therapies (with a focus on self-development and growth)
  • arts therapies (using the creative arts in a therapeutic way)
  • other therapies (includes all other therapies such as group therapies and mindfulness)

There are many schools of thought when it comes to the therapies used, so before you begin, research and see which type resonates with you.

In this video we chat to counsellor and educational psychologist Nadia Wilkinson to learn more about the difference between psychologists, psychiatrists, counsellors and psychotherapists. 

The aim of both psychotherapists and counsellors 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 counsellor, discuss this in your next session. Alternatively, you could look to speak to a different professional.

Similar to the title psychotherapist, the title counsellor is not legally protected. So you should check the professional's credentials to ensure they are qualified to practice.

Want to know more? Read 5 questions you should ask yourself when searching for a counsellor.

What you need to know about counsellors

  • The term counsellor is not legally restricted in the UK. Always check their credentials.
  • Counselling can be applied individually, in groups, families and couples.
  • Counselling sessions can take place face-to-face, via Skype, by email or over the phone.
  • Counsellors encourage you to find your own solutions, rather than telling you what to do.

Psychologist and counselling 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 psychologist

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).

Are any titles within the psychology industry protected or restricted?

There are many titles within the psychology industry that are restricted by law in the UK. These include:

  • clinical psychologist
  • counselling psychologist
  • educational psychologist
  • forensic psychologist
  • health psychologist
  • occupational psychologist
  • practitioner psychologist
  • registered psychologist
  • sport and exercise psychologist

This means that anyone with these titles has to be listed with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) by law. Being listed with the HCPC ensures that they have had the relevant training and adhere to a strict code of conduct.

What you need to know about psychologists:

  • Certain titles within psychology are legally protected, such as 'clinical psychologist'.
  • Psychologists are often either entirely research-focused or 'applied' (meaning they treat clients).
  • They are concerned with all matters of the mind, including everyday thought processes and behaviours.
  • The title 'psychologist' on its own means someone has gained a degree in psychology. It is not legally protected.

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 speciality. This means in order to be a psychiatrist you must train for five years as a doctor. A further two years of 'foundation' jobs are needed before specialising in psychiatry. Becoming a fully trained psychiatrist 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 to 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 speciality of psychiatry, there are a number of subspecialties. Each of these requires a Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (CCST). Such sub-specialities include:

Adult mental illness specialities

  • general psychiatry
  • forensic psychiatry
  • old age psychiatry
  • psychiatry of learning disabilities
  • psychotherapy

Child and adolescent psychiatry

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.

What you need to know about psychiatrists:

  • They have had full medical training and have chosen to specialise in psychiatry.
  • They can choose to specialise further in areas such as forensic psychiatry.
  • They can perform medical examinations and tests.
  • They can prescribe medication.

Further help

We only list professional counsellors, psychotherapists and counselling psychologists on Counselling Directory. To find a professional in your area that utilises the approach you are looking for, please use our advanced search tool.

We hope this page answers any queries you may have regarding the world of mental health professionals. Should you want to find out more, you may find the following pages useful:

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