Not all professionals are the same....

Interesting article. It is specific to BC, Canada but I think generally the same everywhere.

What is the difference between Psychologists, Psychiatrists and Counsellors? | BC Psychological Association

Originally Posted by rcat

Not all professionals are the same....

Interesting article. It is specific to BC, Canada but I think generally the same everywhere.

What is the difference between Psychologists, Psychiatrists and Counsellors? | BC Psychological Association

I smiled a bit when I read this. If you notice, the article is written from the perspective of Psychologists. There is a subtle dissing of the "counselor" degree, even though some counselors also have their PhD. One of the things I've noticed here in the U.S., is that each "group" of practitioners in the mental health field (psychiatrists, psychologists, Clinical Social Workers, Licensed Professional Counselors, and Marriage & Family Therapists) all have their own biases--and each believes that THEY are the best trained and qualified group to provide therapeutic mental health services and many of them refuse or are reluctant to work cooperatively with each other. In my opinion, it begins to border on the ridiculous when you hear how each group toots their own horn.

Personally, I've had services from a psychiatrist a few times in my life (all were pretty arrogant and eager to push medication and none wanted to see you more than 1 hr. initially and then 15 minutes after that). I've had sessions with PhD psychologists (one for a year and now one for two years), Clinical Social Workers (one for 1 1/2 yrs. and others for "test drives"), a few Marriage & Family Therapists for a test drive of 1 or 2 sessions, and a few Licensed Professional Counselors for brief 1 or 2 sessions. In every case, my decision to work with the therapist was because of their ability to act in a sane, rational and actively listening manner. The others didn't click with me and I don't care if they had had a medical degree AND a professional degree in psychology--they were incompetent socially and professionally . . . or they just didn't connect with me on a personal working level.

I don't think it's about what degree the therapist possesses when it comes to working with me. It's about the person's own mental health (stable and they've worked out their own emotional/psychological issues), their commitment to continuing to learn after graduating, and their willingness to own their part of the relationship and their willingness to seek out supervision and peer mentoring through out their entire career--in other words, they aren't so arrogant that they believe that they've learned everything they need to learn in order to do their job correctly.

This might be the case in Canada, but it's certainly not how it is seen in the UK. Talking specifically about the difference between counselling and psychotherapy, the BACP (the largest therapist professional body in the UK) wrote:

BACP, as an Association, has not distinguished between counselling and psychotherapy. Counselling and psychotherapy are umbrella terms that cover a range of talking therapies. They are delivered by trained practitioners who work with people over the short or long term to help them bring about effective change or enhance their wellbeing.

Counselling and psychotherapy are services sought by clients to help them resolve emotional, psychological and relationship issues within a context of confidentiality and clear ethical boundaries using evidence-based interventions to foster long-term recovery, increased resilience and wellbeing.

BACP sees no evidence of any difference between the functions of counselling and psychotherapy.

Personally I am a bit wary of the term Counsellor. I know of people who simply think they are a know-it-all in a subject and slap the word counsellor on a business card and start advertising services.

[Lauliza]

Originally Posted by rcat

Personally I am a bit wary of the term Counsellor. I know of people who simply think they are a know-it-all in a subject and slap the word counsellor on a business card and start advertising services.

That's why you should always check someone's credentials. I suppose anyone can call themselves a counselor but you can't legally call yourself a therapist without a license. In the US a "licensed therapist" and "licensed counselor" are exactly the same thing so long as they are licensed in the field. The doctorate that a clinical psychologist has doesn't make them a more qualified therapist at all. What it does is make them more qualified to do clinical research, neuropsych testing and college level teaching. But all psychologists get their masters in psychology just like mental health counselors, at least where I go to school. Licensed clinical Social workers can also call themselves psychotherapists and are often great therapists. I think it's different in Canada and Europe however, where I think social workers are more specifically case workers.

[The_little_didgee]

Originally Posted by rcat

Interesting article. It is specific to BC, Canada but I think generally the same everywhere.

It is the same in Ontario.

I know a lady who is a counselor/psychotherapist who works out of a community health center. She offers therapy for all kinds of issues and illnesses except psychotic disorders. The clinic offers free short-term therapy, about 12 to 16 sessions, since there is a high demand for it. I got the impression the therapy offered at that clinic addresses specific goals, which is a lot different from the kind of therapy I get from my psychiatrist.