What’s the Difference between all the Therapists on this Site?
16 April 2021
There are many types of psychotherapists operating in South Africa. According to the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), psychotherapists’ training can be broken down into the following categories:
- Clinical psychologists assess, diagnose, and intervene in order to alleviate or contain relatively serious forms of psychological distress and psychopathology, or what is commonly referred to as “abnormal” behaviour.
- Counselling psychologists assist relatively well-adjusted people in dealing with normal problems of life concerning all stages and aspects of a person’s existence in order to facilitate desirable psychological adjustment, growth, and maturity.
- Educational psychologists assess, diagnose and intervene in order to facilitate the psychological adjustment and development of children and adolescents within the contexts of family, school, social or peer groups and communities.
- Industrial psychologists apply the principles of psychology to issues related to the work situation of relatively well-adjusted adults in order to optimise individual, group and organisational well-being and effectiveness.
- Research psychologists address any of the above professional categories, not to render services to the public in that field, but to apply research methods and techniques in order to contribute to the knowledge base of that particular field.
- Registered Counsellors are a new addition to the HPCSA registration categories and are therefore relatively unknown to the public. The key difference between Registered Counsellors and the above psychologists is that counsellors are focused on more short-term interventions at the primary curative/preventative levels across the scope of psychology.
- Psychometrists are professionals trained in the administration, scoring and reporting of various assessment instruments that can be utilised in a wide variety of contexts.
Social Workers are trained to provide psychological counselling, guidance and assistance – via holistic solutions – to their clients. Social workers are required to be members of SACSSP (The SA Council for Social Service Professions)
NB: A listing in the Therapist Directory does NOT imply an endorsement of any therapist.
It is your responsibility as a client to ensure that any therapist you choose is fully qualified, and a member of their relevant governing bodies or associations. See disclaimer in our Terms and Conditions.