Types Of Psychologists & Therapists - Which Do You Need?

Educational psychologists work with children and adolescents, assisting in their psychological adjustment and development. They operate within the contexts of family, school, peer groups and communities, and are able to conduct and interpret scholastic and psychometric tests.

Industrial psychologists operate within the work place, applying the principles of psychology to enhance the well-being and effectiveness of individuals and organisations.

Counselling psychologists treat people dealing with normal life challenges, such as the loss of a job or divorce.

Clinical psychologists treat people with relatively serious kinds of psychological distress, like depression or anxiety disorders.

Occupational therapists treat people with physical or mental impairments, helping them to achieve independence in their lives.

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who have specialised in the treatment of mental illness. They often use medication to treat their patients, but are also able to offer psychotherapy.

Psychometrists administer psychological tests which aim to 'measure' functions such as cognition (often referred to as IQ or intelligence tests), interest (for example career assessments) and personality. The results are usually interpreted by a psychologist or psychiatrist to better understand the clients attitudes, abilities, medical condition or suitability in the workplace.

Registered counsellors perform basic counselling for people who are looking to improve their personal functioning. They can also assess to see if a client need more in depth psychological treatment and refer them to the appropriate practitioner.

Social workers work with individuals, as well as families and communities, to develop treatment plans for people with mental health problems. They may work either in private practice or in collaboration with other healthcare professions.