When looking for mental health support, finding the right therapist for you is important. But what is the difference between a Psychologist, a Psychotherapist, or a Psychiatrist? Know the difference and what you need for yourself.
Why You Should Care
Making the decision to seek mental health support is a courageous one—but it can also be a confusing and complex process. Broadly speaking, your options fall into two categories:
A) Support within the public healthcare system, or
B) Support through private practice
With option A, you typically start with your family doctor, who may refer you to a Psychologist or a Psychiatrist (more on this below). In some cases, you may be able to access services through Alberta Health Services, but more often than not, wait times can be long—sometimes very long.
Because of this, many people choose to seek support privately. This usually means hoping to use an employee benefit plan to cover sessions, or paying out of pocket. It also means you now need to figure out who is actually qualified to help you.
In private practice, you’ll commonly encounter Psychologists, Social Workers, Clinical Counsellors, Psychotherapists, and occasionally Psychiatrists. So… what on earth is the difference?
Psychology vs. Psychiatry
The primary difference between a Psychologist and a Psychiatrist is the ability to prescribe medication.
A Psychiatrist is a Medical Doctor (MD) who specializes in psychiatry. They are experts in diagnosing mental health conditions and prescribing and managing medications for disorders such as Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and increasingly, depression and anxiety.
Psychologists, on the other hand, cannot prescribe medication. Registered Psychologists in Alberta are regulated by the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP). Regulatory colleges exist to protect the public. If a Psychologist acts unethically or outside their scope of practice, clients can file a complaint with the College, which has the authority to investigate and act.
To become a Psychologist, practitioners must complete extensive supervised practice as a Provisional Psychologist and pass the Examination for Professional Practice of Psychology (EPPP)—a rigorous national exam assessing ethical and clinical competence.
In practice, Psychologists may use a wide range of therapeutic approaches. Many specialize in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). CBT has been extensively studied and was long considered the gold standard in mental health treatment. It is structured, skills-based, and focuses on changing thought patterns to influence emotions and behaviour.
However, longer-term research has begun to paint a more nuanced picture. CBT appears less effective for individuals with complex, relational, or repetitive trauma. As neuroscience and trauma research advance, we increasingly understand how early relational experiences shape brain development and emotional regulation. If it were as simple as “changing your thoughts,” many people wouldn’t need ongoing support.
What research consistently shows is this: the quality of the therapeutic relationship matters more than the specific modality used.
Psychology vs. Psychotherapy / Counselling
The difference between Psychologists and Psychotherapists or Counsellors is more complicated—and less clear-cut.
From a regulatory standpoint, Psychologists are regulated under the Health Professions Act through CAP. Psychotherapists and Counsellors in Alberta are not yet regulated, although they do follow ethical guidelines, complete supervised practice hours, and often pursue advanced training.
Because the profession is currently unregulated, technically anyone can call themselves a “Psychotherapist,” which limits formal avenues for client complaints compared to regulated professions.
That said, this is changing.
Counsellors and Psychotherapists in Alberta have been actively working toward regulation. The Association of Counselling Therapy of Alberta (ACTA) currently functions as a precursor to formal regulation. Legislation has been passed to bring Counsellors and Psychotherapists under a regulatory College, with the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) designated to oversee this process. Implementation has been delayed due to funding and administrative disputes, but regulation is coming.
Insurance Coverage
Another practical difference is insurance coverage.
Most employee benefit plans currently cover services provided by Registered Psychologists and Registered Social Workers (MSW). Since COVID—and with impending regulation—more insurance providers are beginning to recognize the value of Counsellors and Psychotherapists, and coverage is gradually expanding. This trend is expected to continue.
How They Practice
Perhaps the least clear—but most important—difference between these professions is how they practice.
The mental health field is deeply divided on “what works.” There are thousands of therapeutic modalities, including CBT, psychodynamic therapy, attachment-based approaches, EMDR, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, Emotional Freedom Technique, Advanced Integrative Therapy, Transactional Analysis, and Re-decision Therapy, to name just a few.
Some are well-researched. Others are less studied but clinically powerful. Every practitioner will likely advocate for the approach they use—including us.
Traditionally, Psychotherapists have been trained in psychodynamic approaches, particularly in Europe and the UK (this is harder to generalize in Canada). Psychodynamic therapy emphasizes the therapeutic relationship itself as a vehicle for change and considers past experiences—especially childhood and relational trauma—as central to understanding and healing present-day difficulties. This work is often long-term, relational, and focused on underlying causes rather than symptom management alone.
Importantly, many Psychologists are also trained in psychodynamic and relational approaches. In reality, any mental health professional can practice multiple modalities, depending on their training.
A Note on Social Workers
Social Workers are uniquely trained to understand how individual suffering is shaped by broader systems—family, culture, institutions, and social structures. They attend to systemic roots of distress and often advocate for change beyond the individual. As therapists, they are highly skilled and are frequently covered by insurance plans.
How Do I Choose?
As someone seeking help, this can feel overwhelming. Suddenly, you’re expected to become an expert just to get support.
Here’s the good news: research consistently shows that the therapist’s modality is not what heals—it’s the relationship.
Find someone you genuinely like. Find someone who believes in therapy—and ideally, someone who does their own therapeutic work. None of us makes it through life unscathed, including therapists. Look for emotional attunement, safety, trust, and a sense that you feel seen and supported.
If regulation under a College and the Health Professions Act is important to you, look for a Registered Psychologist or Clinical Social Worker.
Use free consultations when available. If not, ask for a brief phone call. Trust your instincts. If something feels off in the first interaction, pay attention to that.
Ask potential therapists how they believe people get better. Do they focus primarily on symptom management, or do they work with clients to address underlying patterns and wounds? Both have value—but they are not the same.
Change is possible. And it is a shared responsibility: you bring your courage and willingness, and your therapist brings their training and presence to help you get there.
Most importantly, if you are suffering, reach out. Help exists. You do not have to do this alone.