What’s the Difference Between a Psychologist and a Psychotherapist?

There are several regulated health professionals that offer mental health services. The types and degree of regulation is unique to each province. Not all provinces/territories regulate all types of mental health service providers. See here a comparison of Advance Health therapist services.

Practicum Student (Masters in progress) *

  • Regulatory College: If masters degree substantially complete - a college my permit registration (e.g., CRPO in Ontario).

  • Provides Psychotherapy: Provides supportive therapy. Provision of psychotherapy dependent on educational program, student status, and nature of supervision.

  • Psychological Testing *** / Diagnosis: No *

  • Insurance Reimbursement / Direct Billing to Insurer: No (reduced fee service).

Counselor (Masters)

  • Regulatory College: None

  • Provides Psychotherapy: No – Provides supportive therapy

  • Psychological Testing *** / Diagnosis: No

  • Insurance Reimbursement / Direct Billing to Insurer: No (reduced fee service).

Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC)

  • Regulatory College: BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC) is a professional association for clinical counsellors and psychotherapists in BC. The BCACC intends to regulate RCCs until they become regulated under the Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA) in BC.

  • Provides Psychotherapy: Where permitted provincially (i.e., British Columbia).

  • Psychological Testing *** / Diagnosis: No

  • Insurance Reimbursement / Direct Billing to Insurer: Verify with your insurer / discuss with Intake.

Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC)

  • Regulatory College: No provincial college. A national organization advocating for counselling and psychotherapy as a profession in Canada.

  • Provides Psychotherapy: Where permitted provincially (e.g., Alberta).

  • Psychological Testing *** / Diagnosis: No

  • Insurance Reimbursement / Direct Billing to Insurer: Verify with your insurer / discuss with Intake.

Registered Psychotherapist (Masters*)

  • Regulatory College: College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario

  • Provides Psychotherapy: Yes

  • Psychological Testing *** / Diagnosis: No

  • Insurance Reimbursement / Direct Billing to Insurer: Verify with your insurer / discuss with Intake.

Social Worker (MSW)

  • Regulatory College: Regulated in each province by a provincial College of Social Workers

  • Provides Psychotherapy: Yes

  • Psychological Testing *** / Diagnosis: No

  • Insurance Reimbursement / Direct Billing to Insurer: Verify with your insurer / discuss with Intake.

Clinical Associate (Masters) **

  • Regulatory College: In the process of satisfying requirements to becoming a member of the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario

  • Provides Psychotherapy: Under psychologist supervision

  • Psychological Testing *** / Diagnosis: Under psychologist supervision

  • Insurance Reimbursement / Direct Billing to Insurer: Verify with your insurer / discuss with Intake.

Psychologist (Doctorate-British CoLumbia and Ontario, Masters-Alberta) / Psychological Associate (Ontario-Masters)

  • Regulatory College: Regulated in each province by a provincial College of Psychologists (e.g., Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario)  

  • Provides Psychotherapy: Yes

  • Psychological Testing *** / Diagnosis: Yes

  • Insurance Reimbursement / Direct Billing to Insurer: Verify with your insurer / discuss with Intake.

* Exceptions apply (view therapist profile for detail concerning education).

** In Ontario - a masters student or post masters graduate in the process of satisfying the requirements to becoming a member of The College of Psychologists of Ontario may provide psychological services under strict guidelines set out by The College. If this applies to your therapist, this will be discussed in the first meeting before receiving services.

*** Psychological testing is not equivalent to diagnosis. Clinical knowledge, skill, and experience are required to integrate testing with interview, behavioural presentation, and other file information to formulate a clinical determination.

Additional Notes:

Each therapist practices within their area of competency. For example, just as not every physician can conduct surgery, not every psychologist can provide every diagnosis, and not every therapist can treat every issue.

In most provinces/territories, only a family doctor (MD, physician), nurse practitioner, or psychiatrist can prescribe medication.

Therapists Serving Alberta

Therapists Serving British Columbia

Therapists Serving Ontario

Reach out now. Our Intake Coordinator will answer your questions and match you with your therapist.