Clinical or counselling psychologist: which career is right for you?
By Sarah VercoePublished on
We compare the differences between these two psychology specialisations, from the people they support to the kind of work they do each day.
Trying to decide between a clinical or counselling psychology career?
If you’re comparing clinical vs counselling psychology, you’ve probably already made the biggest decision: psychology is the field you want to pursue. The next step is working out which area feels like the right fit.
Each of these specialisations starts from the same place, with the same level of study and registration pathway required before you can practice. The fork in the road comes later, when you choose a specialisation and decide which area of psychology best matches your interests.
So what is the difference between clinical and counselling psychology? Let’s take a closer look at what sets the two apart.
A quick glance comparison
Clinical psychology | Counselling psychology | |
Registration type | General registration and clinical endorsement (AHPRA) | General registration and counselling endorsement (AHPRA) |
Training | 6 years to general registration | 6 years to general registration |
Endorsement pathway | Accredited masters degree in clinical psychology plus supervised registrar program | Accredited masters degree in counselling psychology plus supervised registrar program |
Focus area | Complex mental health conditions, assessment and diagnosis | Life challenges, adjustment, relationships and emotional resilience |
Common workplace settings | Hospitals, mental health clinics, private practice | Private practice, community health, employee assistance programs |
Medicare rebate | $145 per session | $98 per session |
Understanding clinical psychology
Clinical psychologists help people understand and manage mental health concerns and conditions through assessment, diagnosis, and evidence-based therapies. Their study prepares them to work with a wide range of mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, trauma and more complex conditions.
Becoming a clinical psychologist involves:
completing an APAC-accredited psychology degree
undertaking postgraduate study in clinical psychology to qualify for general registration
finishing with supervised training to gain endorsement.
While registered psychologists can provide therapy, the additional specialist training completed by clinical psychologists can be useful in settings like hospitals and public mental health services.
Clinical psychologists can also access a higher Medicare rebate for clients, which can be an important consideration for private practice.
Understanding counselling psychology
Counselling psychologists work with people navigating life's challenges, including relationship difficulties, grief, work stress, life transitions and questions of identity and meaning. The work often focuses on supporting emotional wellbeing while also helping people navigate mental health concerns.
But that doesn’t mean the work is lightweight in comparison or any less skilled. Counselling psychologists are fully registered practitioners who can work with a range of presentations in a variety of settings, such as private practice and community health services.
The pathway is similar to the clinical route, with general registration first then an accredited masters degree in counselling psychology followed by supervised training.
The difference is that the postgraduate study focuses specifically on counselling psychology.
The key differences
Because both paths lead to registration as a psychologist, the biggest differences come down to the type of work each specialisation focuses on.
Focus and client work
Clinical psychologists are more likely to work with people experiencing complex or severe mental health conditions, including those who might be referred by a GP or psychiatrist with a specific diagnosis in mind. Counselling psychologists support people through a wide range of emotional, relational and life challenges, while also working with many mental health concerns.
Assessment and diagnosis
Clinical practice is more focused on assessment and formal diagnosis. While counselling psychologists are also trained in assessment, the balance in their daily work leans more towards therapeutic support than formal diagnosis.
Medicare rebates
Clients can access a higher Medicare rebate for sessions with a clinical psychologist compared with a general or counselling psychologist. If private practice is something you’re considering in the future, this may be one factor to keep in mind.
Where you’ll work
Clinical psychologists commonly work in hospitals, public mental health services, specialist clinical settings and private practice. Counselling psychologists also work across private practice, community health, education, workplaces, and other settings focused on mental health and wellbeing.
Which option is right for you?
There’s no right or wrong choice. The directions that’s best for you really comes down to the kind of psychology practice you find most engaging and rewarding overall.
Here are some questions to ask yourself to paint a clearer picture of what that might be.
Clinical psychology might be your path if you:
Are drawn to working with complex or severe mental health presentations
Find psychological assessment and formal diagnosis fascinating
Want to work in a setting like a hospital, specialist clinic or a public mental health service
Are aiming for roles where clinical endorsement is preferred or required
Counselling psychology might be your path if you:
Like the idea of helping people work through life’s challenging times
Are less interested in formal diagnosis and more interested in providing therapeutic support
Private practice, community health or workplace settings feel like a good fit
Want a specialisation that can accommodate a range of people, not just clinical-level presentation
And if you’re still unsure, that’s completely normal. Each endorsement comes after your general registration, which means you have time to gain insight and experience in the field before committing to a direction.
You may also like to explore the other psychology specialisations to see where each pathway may lead.
Can you study clinical or counselling psychology online?
Yes, you can study psychology online, including the undergraduate psychology studies that form the foundation for both clinical and counselling psychology pathways. Online study can make this first stage of the pathway easier to fit around work, family and other commitments.
The postgraduate stage is different. Becoming a clinical or counselling psychologist involves supervised placements and practical training, so these specialist qualifications can’t be completed entirely online.
Learn more about how to study psychology online.
Explore your study options through us
Both clinical and counselling psychology start with the same undergraduate psychology studies. Compare online psychology degrees from Australian universities through Open Universities Australia.
Or speak with a student advisor if you'd like help choosing the right pathway.
About the author
Sarah Vercoe
Contributor
Sarah Vercoe is a Queensland-based writer bringing lifestyle, education, and human-interest stories to life for national publications and non-profits. When she’s not writing, she’s lost in a book with her cat by her side.
FAQs about clinical and counselling psychology
Do clinical and counselling psychologists have the same registration status in Australia?
Yes. Both are registered psychologists with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). They also hold an area of practice endorsement that reflects their postgraduate training, either clinical psychology or counselling psychology.
Which specialisation is better if I want to focus on therapy?
Counselling psychology may be the better fit if you're most interested in helping people through therapy and supporting their wellbeing over the long term. Clinical psychologists also provide therapy, so there is plenty of overlap. The biggest difference is that clinical psychology places a stronger emphasis on assessment and diagnosis during training.
Can clinical and counselling psychologists work with the same clients?
Often, yes. Both work with people experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship difficulties and other mental health concerns. The difference is usually in their training focus rather than the types of clients they can see.
Which specialisation offers more variety in where you can work?
Both open the door to a range of careers, including private practice, hospitals, community organisations and universities. Counselling psychologists are also commonly found in workplace wellbeing, education and community settings, while clinical psychologists are more likely to work in hospitals and other health services.
Do I need to choose between clinical and counselling psychology before starting my psychology degree?
No. Both pathways begin with the same undergraduate psychology studies. You'll usually choose your specialisation when you apply for postgraduate training.
Can I run a private practice as either a clinical or counselling psychologist?
Yes. Both clinical and counselling psychologists can work in private practice, either on their own or as part of a larger practice.
