FOR THE PUBLIC

What is a Psychologist?

Psychologists work in a wide range of roles and settings including DHBs, Government agencies, e.g. Ministry of Education, Department of Corrections, Family Court, non-government organisations, private practice, kaupapa Māori contexts, in schools, with ACC clients and in academic settings etc.

Psychologists work with individuals, groups, families/whānau, providing assessments, therapy and other interventions to assist people to live life well. Some psychologists work with organisations to facilitate organisational change and others work with a focus on social change to alleviate poverty and other social justice issues. Others work in academic settings undertaking teaching and research.

It can sometimes be confusing about the differences between professionals working in mental health. For example, psychologists and psychiatrists both work in mental health and often work together. There are sometimes differences in the focus of their work and the way they work.

Psychologists focus their training on the scientific study of mental processes and behaviour and specialise in aspects of psychology in their postgraduate studies.

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness. Psychiatrists use a range of treatments including medication and mainly work with people who have different types of mental illness.

Psychologists work with people who are mentally healthy and want to find ways of functioning better and they also work with those who have different types of mental illness. Psychologists are unable to prescribe medication but are skilled in using a range of other techniques to assist people to function better.

Source: New Zealand Psychological Society | Rōpū Mātai Hinengaro o Aotearoa

What is a Counsellor?

Many life experiences can present us with changes and stressors that seem overwhelming and can interfere with day-to-day life and wellbeing. Counselling provides a supportive and safe environment where issues can be clarified, options and ways of navigating these can be explored, and effective strategies can be developed that meet the needs of each client in bringing about positive change.

It can also encourage you to become aware of different feelings, learn new communication skills, better-coping skills, strengthen your ideas of self-worth, make more useful decisions, and change a behaviour that gets you into ‘trouble’. A counsellor will not tell you how to resolve these difficulties – they don’t give advice – but they will help and support you to see things more clearly and maybe from a different point of view where positive change is possible.

Counselling is a unique professional process based on forming a trusting, respectful and non-judgemental professional relationship. You can talk in confidence about matters which are troubling you. Counsellors use a range of skills and interventions to help you identify, address and find ways of coping with challenges that occur in life.

Counselling may involve working with individuals, couples, family/whānau and groups, and can take place face-to-face, or via telephone or online platforms.

Source: New Zealand Association of Councellors | Te Rōpū Kaiwhiriwhiri o
Aotearoa

What is a Psychotherapist?

Psychotherapists are qualified health practitioners who are regulated by the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (HPCA Act) and only psychotherapists registered by the Board can use the title ‘psychotherapist’.

Psychotherapists sit alongside psychiatrists and clinical psychologists as mental health practitioners registered under the HPCA Act.   The primary orientation of psychotherapists is the facilitation of change, development and healing in members of the Aotearoa public with mental health concerns.  Psychotherapists work with people experiencing mild, moderate and serious mental health concerns and while they are often trained to work in depth, and longer term, in achieving significant human development and change, they are also able to assist with brief intervention and stabilisation.   Psychotherapists take the context of a person’s life into account, including social, cultural, relational and spiritual contexts. While psychotherapists are primarily interested in facilitating development and change this inevitably includes assessment, formulation and diagnosis within a person’s social and cultural context.

Clients may include children, adolescents, adults, couples, families, whānau, groups, organisations and the public.

Source: The Psychotherapist Board of Aotearoa New Zealand | Te Poari o ngā Kaihaumanu Hinengaro o Aotearoa

What is a Psychiatrist?

Psychiatrists are specialist medical doctors who are experts in mental health. Psychiatry involves the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of patients with psychological, emotional, or cognitive problems resulting from psychiatric disorders, physical disorders or any other cause.

Treatment interventions provided by psychiatrists will include biological, psychological and existential modalities. Psychiatrists also undertake supervision and consultation with other health professionals, working with a broad range of issues.

Sources: Medical Council of New Zealand | Te Kaunihera Rata o Aotearoa and The Royal Australia and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists

What is a Life Coach?

A life coach is a mentor who helps people make positive changes in their lives. They can help with personal and professional goals, such as career changes, relationship issues, or self-care. Coaches typically adopt a strengths-based approach, aiming to inspire their clients, teach them essential skills, and assist them in effectively achieving specific goals, such as business success or weight loss. Coaching may resonate more with individuals who prioritise external success over self-disclosure or self-discovery. The coaching metaphor is suitable, as the coach trains you to achieve your goals, whatever they may be. They are not necessarily considered healthcare practitioners under NZ Law.

Source: Various Online