Registered Social Worker, Psychologist or Psychotherapists In Canada - Which one do I Choose?
Nowadays, there are a lot of mental health professionals who have different educational, training, and work backgrounds. Some of the most common include titles such as Social Worker, Psychologist, and Psychotherapist.
You might be wondering what is the difference or is one a better fit for me? We recognize that it can be confusing, so in this post, we provide an overview of each role, breakdown the differences, and share some tips about how you might know which one is best suited for you!
Each Role and What Makes Them Different:
What is a Psychotherapist?
Psychotherapy is a type of therapy that is talk-based. Goals of psychotherapy include discussing and expressing feelings, changing attitudes, changing behaviour and habits, and promoting more constructive coping strategies. Psychotherapists or a “Registered Psychotherapist” (RP) are registered and in good standing. They are trained and licensed to provide psychotherapy. In this role, they are not able to diagnose or prescribe medication but can provide assessments and therapy treatment. Some modalities a Psychotherapist may use include CBT, DBT, and solution-focused.
Education:
Master’s degree or diploma in Counselling and/or Psychotherapy.
Additional exam (varies province to province).
Direct client hours.
Clinical supervision.
What is a Registered Social Worker?
A Registered Social Worker, or RSW, are individuals who are trained to focus on how a person's social environment, such as housing, work, and financial factors impacts overall health. Social workers must complete ethical and professional requirements to obtain this standing. A RSW can provide counseling services alongside other roles such as assessing client needs, consulting with stakeholders, contacting community agencies, providing crisis intervention, etc. RSWs cannot diagnose people or prescribe medications, however, can provide assessment and treatment or therapy.
Education:
Master’s degree in Social Work.
Registration with a provincial college.
What is a Psychologist?
Psychologists are able to provide diagnoses but cannot prescribe medications. Psychologists can also practice Psychotherapy and can provide both assessment and treatment. Psychologists study both normal and abnormal behaviour and try to help people change aspects of their behaviour that they want to change. Psychologists also have the ability to support individuals who are dealing with physical disorders, neurological illnesses/injuries, gastrointestinal disorders, pulmonary disorders, chronic pain, and diabetes. What makes a Psychologist different is that they can provide diagnoses, however, still are not able to prescribe medications.
Education:
Master’s degree or Doctoral degree in Psychology from an approved Psychology program.
Completed approximately 1 year of supervised experience.
Passed oral and written examinations administered (varies province to province).
Which One is the Best Fit?
This is a tricky question, as it does vary for everyone. Ultimately, all these professionals are qualified and want to support you and your mental health! Connection is what matters the most! We recommend you take time to research, set up free consultations, and ask questions about the therapists' training, education, etc. to better understand their approach and how it might cater to your needs.
And if you wonder what other important questions to ask in a consultation with a therapist, read TCC’s blog post.
One important thing to note is regarding insurance. If you have an insurance plan, make sure you check in with the company to ensure the professional meets their guidelines. For example, some companies only provide coverage for Social Workers or may have restrictions on the type of professional.
Conclusion:
While Registered Social Workers, Psychologists, and Psychotherapists all have different educational backgrounds, each one can practice as a therapist. These professionals are equally helpful, and it comes down to your preference. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and do further research! Your care matters and finding a professional that aligns with your goals and needs is what is most important.
At TCC, we have both Psychologists and Social Workers on our team! If you are interested in services and what each therapist has to offer, read more about our team!
Resources:
Hammond, A. (2021, March 2). Psychotherapist? Social Worker? psychologist? what’s the diff?! HammondPS.ca. https://www.hammondpsychotherapy.com/post/psychotherapist-social-worker-psychologist-what-s-the-diff
CAMH. (2024). Psychotherapy talk therapy. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/psychotherapy
Alberta Health Services. (2024). Careers in psychology. https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/info/Page5467.aspx
Indeed Editorial Team. (2024, June 27). Social Worker vs. psychologist (responsibilities and skills) | Indeed.com Canada. Indeed. https://ca.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/social-worker-vs-psychologist
