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Unknown userMember
@Former-Member @Former-Member@Former-Member@Former-Member
Hi guys im confused as to the difference is these professionals
so whats the difference between Psychotherapy..... clinical psychologist....... and psychologist..........?
In response to: whats the difference in these treatments?
Phoenix_RisingSenior Contributor
Hi @Former-Member,
Pretty much anyone can call themselves a "psychotherapist" - this is an unregulated term.
A psychologist is someone who has done a 4 year degree plus a 2-year internship.
A clinical psychologist is someone who has done a 4 year degree plus an additional 2-year masters degree.
So...for example, I have a psychology degree, but to become a psychologist I would need to do the 2-year internship (or a masters program).
I hope that helps. Realistically, in my experience, the qualification that someone has is irrelevant to how much they may or may not be able to help you. The best counsellor I have ever had was my uni counsellor and she was a social worker. I think the training that social workers receive prepares them much better for actually helping people than the training that psychologists receive. For example, social workers do a lot of placements (i.e. gaining practical experience out in the real world) during their degree whereas a psychology student does not do any placements or learn any sort of actual counselling skills during the 4-year degree. To me that is absurd!
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Help us push aside the stigma and discrimination surrounding complex mental health and change the way people talk about, and care for, mental illness.
SANE acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present.
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