**By RJ - Peer Support Worker**

If you feel like you might need to talk to someone about your mental health challenges, you’re already taking a great step. But the next question becomes – who do you choose?!
What’s the difference between a psychologist, psychiatrist, psychotherapist, coach, counsellor, and a Lived Experience Worker? And which one is right for you?
Here’s what you need to know from the facts and my own experiences!
*(Written from an Australian context)*

I know – it can get pretty confusing. To make it trickier, a psychologist can offer counselling, but a counsellor can’t offer psychology. Wait… what?!

I’ve attended sessions with psychologists, psychotherapists, counsellors, psychiatrists, and more recently, coaches. In this article, I’ll try to set the story straight from a client’s perspective, and make it easier to understand the differences and similarities between these roles.

Psychologists

Training
Psychologists complete 6–12+ years of university study and supervised clinical practice. They study mental states, emotional and social processes, and behaviour. Their training includes:

Step 1: Bachelor of Psychology (4 years)
Step 2: Master of Psychology (3–4 more years)
OR become a Registered Psychologist (2 years workplace training and supervision)
Optional Step 3: PhD or Doctor of Psychology (another 4–7 years)

Only those who complete Steps 1 & 2 can use the title “psychologist.” Some may also use “Dr” if they’ve completed Step 3. You can check to see is someone is a psychologist through the Australian Psychological Society - https://psychology.org.au/find-a-psychologist

Psychologists are qualified to conduct psychological assessments and provide diagnoses (e.g. anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder). However, they cannot prescribe medication—only psychiatrists and GPs can.

Costs
With a GP referral and mental health plan, you can access 6–10 subsidised sessions. Some are fully covered by Medicare; others may have a gap fee ($10–$300). Without a plan, sessions typically cost $200–$400. Private health insurance may offer partial rebates.

My experience
Most psychologists I saw were warm, kind, and knowledgeable. I felt safe—but not always empowered. I often left feeling like I was learning their strategies, not discovering my own. I sometimes felt dependent, like I’d never be “done” with therapy. It became financially and emotionally draining.

Counsellors

Training
Counsellors can have anywhere from a few days to a Master’s degree in training. The title “counsellor” isn’t regulated in Australia, so it’s important to ask about qualifications and experience. Accredited counsellors may register with professional bodies like the Australian Counselling Association - https://theaca.net.au/home

Costs
Counselling isn’t covered by Medicare and you don’t need a referral. Sessions typically cost $50–$200. Some private health insurers offer rebates.

My experience
Counsellors often focus on immediate issues—grief, relationships, anger, addiction. I’ve had powerful childhood healing sessions with counsellors. The connection and personal growth you experience with the individual matters more than their title.

Psychotherapists

Training
Psychotherapy is a deeper form of counselling that explores your past to understand your present. It’s often long-term and reflective. Psychotherapists may be counsellors, psychologists, or psychiatrists who use this approach.

The title “psychotherapist” isn’t regulated, but professional bodies like PACFA require 350+ hours of training and 50 hours of supervision - https://www.pacfa.org.au/

My experience
Psychotherapy with a trained professional helped me explore the “why” behind my patterns. It’s not about quick fixes—it’s about deep, lasting change through self-awareness.

Psychiatrists

Training
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialise in mental health. They complete at least 11 years of study and training. They can diagnose and prescribe medication, and some also offer counselling or psychotherapy.

My experience
Psychiatric sessions often felt more clinical—focused on assessment and medication. While some psychiatrists offer talk therapy, many don’t. Still, they play a vital role in managing complex mental health conditions, especially when medication is needed.

Coaches

Training
Coaches believe you already have the answers within. They guide you to access your own inner wisdom. Coaches can come from many backgrounds—psychology, nutrition, fitness, peer work, etc. but there is no formal requirements necessary. Coaching is often short-term and intends to avoid creating dependency.

Costs
Sessions range from $80–$350 depending on training and experience.

My experience
Traditional therapy made me feel broken. I did find it difficult though to wade through the amount of coaches online and felt worried about picking someone who had only done a 3-hour training. However, coaching—especially through Spiritual Psychology and Conscious Parenting—helped me feel whole. I felt connected to something bigger. I wasn’t just learning strategies—I was healing at a cellular level. I felt worthy, divine, and supported.

Lived Experience Workers

Lived Experience Workers are people who draw on their own personal experiences of mental health challenges, recovery, or neurodivergence to support others. They don’t come from a place of “fixing” or diagnosing—they walk alongside you, offering empathy, hope, and real-world strategies.

At The Peer Practice, Lived Experience Workers are trained to support people in a way that’s authentic, empowering, and deeply human. They understand what it’s like to feel overwhelmed, stuck, or misunderstood—because they’ve been there too.

My experience
Working with Lived Experience Workers has been one of the most validating and healing parts of my journey. There’s something powerful about being seen and supported by someone who truly gets it—not just professionally, but personally. They didn’t come with a clipboard or a diagnosis—they came with empathy, presence, and lived wisdom.

I felt less alone. Less judged. More understood.

Instead of trying to fix me, they walked beside me. They helped me feel safe enough to explore my own story, and empowered enough to rewrite parts of it. Their support was grounded in real-life experience, not just theory. And that made all the difference.

My Final Thoughts

There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to mental health support. You might need a psychologist for assessment, a psychiatrist for medication, a counsellor for grief, a coach for growth, a psychotherapist for deep healing, or a Lived Experience Worker for connection and hope.

What matters most is how you feel in the space—safe, seen, and supported.

You don’t have to choose just one type of support. In fact, many people find the most benefit by creating a team around them—a mix of professionals and Lived Experience support who meet different emotional, psychological, and practical needs. You might see a psychologist for trauma work, a coach for personal growth, and a Lived Experience Worker for day-to-day support and connection.

If you’re curious about working with a Lived Experience Worker, Peer Practice offers flexible, person-centred support from people who’ve walked similar paths. They understand what it’s like to feel overwhelmed, stuck, or misunderstood—and they’re here to walk alongside you, not ahead of you! I am proud to say that I am where I am today due to support from a Lived Experience Worker and believe in it so much that I am now one myself!

You deserve support that feels right for you. You deserve a team that sees your strengths, honours your story, and helps you move forward in a way that feels grounded and empowering.

Hopefully this helps you with at least to know what type of place you’d like to start!

Read RJ's Staff Profile