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Therapy vs Counselling

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What’s the Difference Between a Therapist and a Counsellor in South Africa?

If you’re considering getting support for your mental health or emotional well-being, you might have come across terms like therapist, counsellor, or psychologist. People often use these words interchangeably in everyday conversation, but in South Africa, they mean different things. Understanding those differences can help you choose the right kind of help for what you’re going through.

Let’s break it down.

What is a “Therapist”?

In South Africa, the word therapist is a bit of a grey area. It’s not a protected title, which means anyone can technically call themselves a therapist. But when someone refers to a psychological therapist, they’re usually talking about a clinical psychologist or counselling psychologist.

These professionals are:

  • Registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA)
  • Trained to diagnose and treat mental disorders
  • Qualified to provide longer-term psychotherapy
  • Required to have a Master’s degree in Psychology, a supervised internship, and board exams

A psychologist can help with things like trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, identity issues, and more complex emotional patterns. They can also run assessments and provide formal diagnoses.

What is a Counsellor?

A counsellor is someone trained to help people deal with life’s challenges, things like relationship problems, work stress, parenting struggles, or adjusting to a loss or big life change.

In South Africa, counsellors may be:

  • Registered Counsellors with the HPCSA
  • Wellness or Specialist Counsellors with professional bodies like the ASCHP
  • Qualified through diplomas or degrees in counselling or psychology, often with practical training included

Counsellors don’t diagnose mental illnesses, and they don’t do deep psychotherapy. But they do provide a safe space to talk, reflect, build coping tools, and work through life’s difficulties.

If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or burnt out, but still managing to function, counselling can be a great starting point.