If you’re looking for a psychologist, it can sometimes feel overwhelming. You might have noticed that not all psychologists describe themselves the same way. Many use the general title ‘psychologist’, others use the title ‘clinical psychologist’. You might have also come across other titles, such as counselling psychologist, forensic psychologist, or organisational psychologist. Understanding what these titles mean, and in particular the difference between counselling and clinical psychology, can help you make a more informed choice about the kind of support you are looking for.
I am a psychologist with endorsements in both Counselling Psychology and Clinical Psychology. I work with adolescents and adults, in person at my Albert Park practice and online across Australia. This article explains what each endorsement means, where they overlap, and how I came to hold both.
What Does It Mean to Be a Registered Psychologist in Australia?
The title ‘Psychologist’ is protected in Australia under national law. Only those registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) are permitted to use it. Registration requires a significant period of education and supervised practice, typically a minimum of six years.
There are a number of pathways to general registration. The first is an accredited four-year sequence of study in psychology, followed by an accredited Masters in Psychology as the fifth and sixth years, which includes supervised practice and a research thesis. The second is the same four-year undergraduate sequence, followed by a one-year Masters of Professional Psychology, and then a further year of supervised practice as a Provisional Psychologist; this is sometimes referred to as the 5+1 pathway. A third option is to pursue a standalone Doctorate in Psychology (DPsych), a PhD, or a combined Masters and Doctorate program, following the same four-year undergraduate sequence. A fourth pathway, the 4+2, which consisted of four years of APAC-accredited study followed by two years of supervised practice as a Provisional Psychologist, is being retired and is no longer available to new applicants.
Beyond general registration, psychologists can apply for an area of practice endorsement, which reflects advanced training and supervised experience in a particular field. In Australia, AHPRA currently recognises nine areas of practice endorsement, including counselling psychology and clinical psychology. It is worth stating clearly that all registered psychologists, regardless of endorsement area, are qualified to assess, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions. This is a core requirement of training and registration, not something specific to any one endorsement. Endorsement areas reflect differences in training emphasis, theoretical orientation, and areas of experience, not differences in fundamental clinical competence.
Please note: at the time this article was updated, the Psychology Board of Australia has proposed a redesign of the educational pathway into psychology. This review is ongoing and may result in changes to the training and endorsement structure described here.
Counselling vs Clinical Psychology: What’s the Difference?
A common perception is that clinical psychologists are more qualified, more rigorously trained, or better suited to complex presentations. This is understandable; the word “clinical” carries weight, and it is the endorsement area most people have heard of. It is worth stating clearly that this perception does not reflect the reality of training or scope of practice. As noted above, all registered psychologists meet the same AHPRA competency requirements, including the ability to assess, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions.
Counselling Psychology
Counselling psychology has its roots in humanistic and relational traditions, and this shapes the lens through which I approach clinical work in a meaningful way. Rather than beginning with a problem to be assessed, diagnosed, and treated, counselling psychology tends to start with the whole person: their strengths alongside their challenges, the relationships that have shaped them, and the systems they live and move within. Many of the patterns that bring people to therapy made sense at the point they developed. A behavioural response or way of relating that now feels like a problem may once have been an entirely reasonable adaptation to difficult circumstances. Early relational experiences are particularly formative here. The way we learn to connect, to protect ourselves, or to manage uncertainty in childhood often reflects what we needed to survive in those environments. The people around us, including our parents and caregivers, were themselves working from their own histories and learnings. This is not about assigning blame; it is about understanding how we arrived at where we are. The work, from a counselling psychology perspective, involves recognising when those earlier patterns are no longer serving us, and drawing on existing strengths to find different ways of seeing and responding. People bring considerable resources into the room with them. The therapeutic relationship is understood as a primary mechanism of change throughout this process.
The field draws on a wide range of evidence-based therapeutic models. Research consistently supports the effectiveness of psychotherapy delivered by counselling psychologists across a range of presentations (Roth & Fonagy, 2005).
Clinical Psychology
Clinical psychology has traditionally had a stronger emphasis on the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health disorders, often in more complex or acute settings such as hospitals, community mental health services, and specialist clinics. Clinical psychologists are trained in psychological assessment and diagnosis, and work with presentations ranging from anxiety and depression through to psychosis, eating disorders, and neuropsychological conditions.
In practice, the day-to-day work of counselling and clinical psychologists in private practice settings can look very similar. Both must adhere to the Australian Psychological Society Code of Ethics, and both draw on evidence-based approaches to assessment, formulation, and treatment.
Where the Overlap Lies
Research comparing outcomes between counselling and clinical psychologists has consistently found that therapeutic outcomes are more strongly associated with the quality of the therapeutic relationship and therapist competence than with the specific endorsement area held by the practitioner (Wampold & Imel, 2015). What matters most is whether you feel understood, whether the approach fits your needs, and whether your psychologist has relevant experience.
My Dual Endorsement: Counselling and Clinical Psychology
I hold endorsements in both Counselling Psychology and Clinical Psychology. I identify primarily as a Counselling Psychologist; this reflects the relational values that have always been central to my practice, including the therapeutic relationship as a primary mechanism of change. The reason I pursued Clinical endorsement is straightforward: it allows my clients to access the higher Medicare rebate available when seeing a Clinical Psychologist. There are significant similarities in the training and clinical work across both endorsements, and that practical benefit to clients was what drove me to apply.
I am also a Board-Approved Supervisor, which means I support provisional psychologists and registered psychologists seeking supervision as part of their professional development.
My Areas of Clinical Focus
My clinical work spans three interconnected areas: performance, anxiety, and trauma. These areas overlap more than people often realise. High-functioning individuals, whether in sport, the performing arts, academia, or professional life, frequently present with anxiety, self-criticism, or performance pressure that sits alongside, or is complicated by, earlier experiences.
I work with performance anxiety, broader anxiety presentations, and trauma using evidence-based approaches including EMDR, Schema Therapy, ACT, and mindfulness-based interventions. You can read more about my therapeutic approach here.
My background as a competitive cyclist at state, national, and world masters levels informs my understanding of the psychological demands of high performance. This lived experience shapes how I work with clients navigating the intersection of performance and wellbeing.
How to Choose the Right Psychologist
When considering which psychologist to see, it is worth thinking about:
- Whether they have experience with the concerns you are bringing.
- Whether their therapeutic approach aligns with what you are looking for.
- Whether you feel a sense of fit from initial contact, through the website, the intake process, or a brief phone conversation.
- Whether they are AHPRA registered, which you can verify through the AHPRA public register.
Endorsement area is one piece of information among many. It tells you something about a psychologist’s training emphasis and areas of interest, but it does not determine the quality of the work.
Working with Me
I see clients individually, in person at my Albert Park practice and online across Australia. If you would like to explore whether working together might be a good fit, you are welcome to make an enquiry or book directly through the appointment portal.
References
Roth, A., & Fonagy, P. (2005). What works for whom? A critical review of psychotherapy research (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.
Wampold, B. E., & Imel, Z. E. (2015). The great psychotherapy debate: The evidence for what makes psychotherapy work (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203582015
First published January 2018. Edited and updated June 2026.
