Difference Between Counselor and Psychologist

Introduction

In today's world, every individual is surrounded by different problems, be they social, cognitive, mental, economic, or physical. People are bound with problems like stress, depression, over-eating, inferiority complex, superiority complex, phobias, and many more. To overcome these life-threatening problems many types of therapies are introduced. One of the evident therapies is counseling. Counseling is a sort of talking therapy in which an individual talks about his/her issues and problems by building trust with a counselor in a more positive and better environment. Counseling doesn't mean sorting problems by only talking. It involves different kinds of other therapies like Humanistic Therapies, Psychodynamic Therapies, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy [CBT], Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Psychoanalysis etc. The trained professional who offers different kinds of therapies is known as a counselor.

Apart from counseling, there is another term familiar to us called Psychology. In simple words, psychology is the study of the mind and behavior in human beings, animals, and even plants. It is related to a person's mind, body, soul, or mental health and well-being. From kids to senior citizens, psychology is relevant to everyone. Many psychological TV shows shed some light on psychology. For example- The Good Doctor, Black Mirror, The Patient American Horror Story Poster, Grey's Anatomy Poster, Hannibal, and many more. Psychology is practiced by psychologists who study the mental behavior and state of humans and non-humans and assist them in dealing with mental health challenges.

People often misunderstand the meaning of counselors and psychologists. They categorize these two terms as same positions. However, a counselor is very different from a psychologist. Counselors and psychologists use different methods and techniques to deal with the patients. They carry their ways and criteria.

Counsellor vs Psychologist

Counselors and psychologists sound similar in working terms. But they vary from each other in educational qualifications, way of treatment, choice of techniques, and practices. It is important to understand the role of counselors and psychologists.

A counselor is a well-trained professional who is an expert in solving the issues of people by practicing counseling. He/she uses talking therapies to build a relationship of trust with people so that they can speak their hearts out about their feelings, emotions, problems, and challenges in a peaceful and stable environment. Counselors vary according to the needs of people. They can be family counselors, mental health counselors, career counselors, school counselors, grief counselors, and rehabilitation counselors. Counselors usually deal with teens and senior citizens by giving them treatments to overcome certain age-related problems like peer pressure, substance abuse, depression, loneliness, etc.

While a psychologist is a more specialized professional with a doctoral degree who studies human behavior, mind, and feelings. They assess emotional, social, and cognitive behavior through the use of therapies and analysis. Holding a Ph.D. or PsyD degree in psychology, psychologists deal with mentally disabled patients, psychos, and other worst cases. There are different kinds of psychologists' expertise in various fields Clinical Psychology, Experimental Psychology, Forensic Psychology, Health Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Neuropsychology, Educational Psychology, Comparative Psychology, and many more. These psychologists observe deeply and use techniques and experiments to analyze the emotions of individuals.

Difference Between Counsellor and Psychologist in Tabular Form

Parameters of Comparison	Counsellor	Psychologist
Definition	Counselor deals with different types of cognitive, social, or emotional behaviors by giving them therapeutic motivations and advice.	Psychologist deals with people with mental disorders and problems by treating them with care and assistance.
Educational Qualifications	Counselors hold a master's degree and are experienced with 2-3 years of training.	Psychologists hold a doctoral degree and are experienced with 5-6 years of training.
Aim	Counselors give short-term solutions to existing problems.	Psychologists provide long-term solutions for repetitive problems.
Working Place	Counselors work as social service providers in schools, colleges, hospitals, or any other career setting.	Psychologists work in hospitals and clinics and are well-recognized.
Method of Approach	Counselors observe from a holistic approach all the aspects of a social being.	Psychologists observe from a cognitive behavioral approach and initiate action towards society.
Duration	Counseling sessions last for 3-5 months of the duration based on the client's condition.	There is no fixed duration of sessions. Psychologists require more time and sessions to treat the patient’s condition.
Scope	The major areas of counseling are- family counseling, group counseling, and career counseling.	The scope of psychology is narrow and wide with two main branches- pure psychology and applied psychology.

Who is a Counsellor?

In this stressful world, people tend to struggle with their inner turmoil and conflicts. Stress related to work, home, and studies has made life challenging for us. One can easily deal with the petty issues and problems on their own. But when the problems become the major source and become tough to manage, then one needs to seek help or consultation from a counselor or a psychotherapist.

 A counselor is a professional who is an expert in solving the problems of people by conducting therapy sessions. The practice of these sessions is called counseling. It is a form of therapy that involves the idea of talking with a client to discuss his/her problems with a trained expert. The counselor forms a relationship of trust with the client and provides him/her with a better and more stable atmosphere. A counselor doesn't force the client to do this or that. His/her role is to help the client cope with the problems by identifying the primary cause behind them.

Counseling sessions take place in various formats in favor of the client's convenience and interest. The different counseling formats are:-

1. Face-to-Face Counselling- People often feel low or suffer from serious problems like stress, and depression due to their busy lives. In that case, face-to-face counseling comes under the category of the best session. The counselor comes face to face with the client and discusses his/her problems surrounding life. The counselor observes the client and his/her issues and provides them with some advice and therapies.
2. Group Counselling- In this type of counseling, the client sits with a group of 5 or more people and another group of counselors. He/she talks about the problems faced by them and interacts with the group in a positive environment. This interaction helps to create self-understanding and confidence in the client.
3. Telephone Counselling- It is very similar to face-to-face counseling. The minute difference is that the session is taken over the phone. There are many counseling helplines run by trained counselors. This is a convenient option for clients who face discomfort in face-to-face conversations.
4. Online Counselling- This is taken through online mediums with the use of mobiles, video conferencing, e-mails, and other facilities. It proves beneficial in remote areas.

The cycle of these sessions revolves around the counselor and the client. The counselor builds trust in the client and the client opens his/her heart out to the counselor.

Counselors hold master's degrees in psychology and have a lot of experience. Numerous skills are required to become a counselor:-

• A good Communicator- A counselor should have good communication skills. He/she should patiently listen to the client by giving full attention.
• Act of Questioning- The Counsellor should know to ask questions not only to clear his/her doubts but also to improve understanding and get a clarification of the matter.
• Sense of Empathy- He/she should be aware of the client's feelings and sentiments. The counselor should be able to understand the client's problem and develop a positive and comfortable atmosphere.

 Various types of counselors are expertise in different fields:-

• Guidance Counsellor- A guidance counselor is a professional hired by schools or universities for career and personal purposes. These professionals offer career-related advice and improve the study environment. This influences students to make future decisions wisely. They examine the students' potential skills to pave their way to success.
• Marriage Counsellor- A marriage counselor is a professional hired by couples to receive guidance to overcome their relationship troubles. These professionals help resolve fights and conflicts between couples. They offer relationship advice according to the stage of the relationship whether building the relationship stronger or separating ways.
• Mental Health Counsellors- These professionals treat mental health conditions and other emotional disorders, challenges, and problems. They deal with issues like depression, anxiety, stress, loss, etc. They use a variety of methods and techniques to help people cope with their problems.
• Substance Abuse Counsellors- These professionals deal with people mainly teens addicted to drugs and alcohol. Substance Abuse Disorder is one of the toughest disorders to treat. The counselors fulfill challenging duties by helping people overcome substance abuse.
• Career Counsellor- These professionals act as mentors and provide career counseling aims and career goals. They conduct some cycles of sessions and involve the use of personality. They help to choose the right career-based options based on the individual's skills, knowledge, and talent.

Who is a Psychologist?

Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior of humans and non-humans. It is practiced by a psychologist. A psychologist is a trained professional who is an expert in studying the mental health and behavior of individuals. They undergo specialized training and years of education to be able to provide psychological-related services. They study the individuals' social, cognitive, and emotional behaviors.

The psychologists provide tests and assessments to diagnose the patient's conditions. They use various therapies like psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, humanistic therapy, and psychodynamic therapy to evaluate the intellectual skills, strengths, and weaknesses of the patient.

Types of Psychologists

• Applied Psychologists- These professionals solve problems related to health, workplace, or education. They use theories related to psychological science to solve the problems of the people.
• Research Psychologists- These professionals solve issues related to the human brain and its behavior. They are also known as experimental psychologists. They gather data and, analyze human and animal behavior.
• Clinical Psychologists- These professionals solve the problems related to mental health disorders. They make therapeutic relationships to communicate with the patients. They deal with patients from all types of backgrounds. They work in institutions and organizations for people's well-being. They are more experienced and trained than other psychologists.

Psychologists mainly work as researchers in faculties and universities, hospitals, schools, clinics, or private offices. Some are researched professionally and some practice at a place. They hold a doctoral degree in Ph.D., PsyD, or EdD and are trained for an average of seven years after completion of undergraduate.

Main Difference Between Counsellor and Psychologist (In Points) 

• Counselors are trained experts who work with specific populations like college students and senior citizens and conduct therapeutic sessions to solve their mental and emotional health problems. Psychologists are more specialized experts who work with every age group and employ treatment to study the behavior of the human mind and behavior.
• Counselors work in houses, government departments, and helpline services with no profit. Whereas, psychologists work in a wide range of professional settings.
• The term' counselor' is derived from the Latin word 'conciliator' meaning consultation or advice. On the other hand, the term' psychologist' is derived from 2 Latin roots' psyche' [soul, mind] and 'logia' [study of].
• Counselors have a broad scope and can deal with their clients in different fields. While psychologists only deal with patients with serious or abnormal mental health conditions.
• Counselors do not require much paperwork and research. Whereas, psychologists conduct research and experiments and rely on facts.
• Counselors take a short period for treatment. On the other hand, psychologists need more time and sessions for effective treatment.
• Counselors have a shorter educational path to cover and psychologists take a long period to complete training and degree.
• Counsellors do not have access to prescribing medications but psychologists can prescribe medications only in some regions.

Conclusion

In short, a counselor refers to a professional who can resolve issues that an individual can't solve on his/her own. A psychologist refers to a trained professional who emerges as an expert in treating the serious mental health issues of the patient. These two professionals vary in terms of educational backgrounds, conducting sessions, and practicing.

References

• onlinegrad.pepperdine.edu
• webmd.com
• pediaa.com