Psychologist vs counsellor vs psychotherapist: who's actually regulated in Australia?

Updated August 2026.

Short answer: a psychologist is registered with AHPRA, has done at least six years of training, and can attract a Medicare rebate. "Counsellor" and "psychotherapist" are not protected titles in Australia, so anyone can use them, with no mandated training and no Medicare rebate. Plenty of counsellors and psychotherapists are skilled and ethical, but the title on its own guarantees nothing, so it helps to know the difference.

To call yourself a "psychologist", you must hold current registration with the Psychology Board of Australia, through AHPRA (the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency). That means verified qualifications, a national code of conduct, indemnity insurance, and a complaints process you can rely on if something goes wrong.

"Counsellor" and "psychotherapist" are different. Neither is a protected title, and neither is regulated by AHPRA. Some belong to voluntary member bodies like PACFA or the ACA, which set their own standards, but membership is optional and anyone can legally use the title without it. Many are genuinely good at what they do. The point is simply that the label alone tells you nothing about their training or accountability, whereas the psychologist title does.

This is the practical catch. With a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP, Medicare rebates $101.55 per session with a registered psychologist and $149.05 with a clinical psychologist, for up to 10 sessions a year. Counsellors and psychotherapists are not eligible for these rebates, so you pay their full fee out of pocket. If cost and a rebate matter to you, that alone often settles the question.

For general life challenges, relationship issues, grief, or ongoing personal support, some people find a skilled counsellor a good and affordable fit, especially one who belongs to a recognised body. For a diagnosable condition, a Medicare rebate, or situations where regulation and a formal complaints process matter to you, a registered psychologist is the safer choice. If you are not sure which you need, start with your GP or with a psychologist.

1. Go to the AHPRA public register at ahpra.gov.au and choose "Check a health practitioner's registration".
2. Search their name, or their registration number if you have it (psychology numbers start with "PSY").
3. Confirm the profession says Psychologist, the status is Registered (not lapsed, suspended, or cancelled), and read any conditions, though most have none.

If someone cannot be found on the register under "Psychologist", they are not a registered psychologist, whatever their website says. That does not mean a counsellor is unqualified, but you now know which set of protections applies.

Every one of the 369 psychologists on Help Link is matched against the AHPRA register, and each profile shows a verified badge with how long they have been registered and their qualifications. If a registration cannot be confirmed, the profile does not get the badge. So the check has already been done for you, and you can always confirm it yourself using the steps above. For the difference between the two kinds of psychologist, see clinical vs registered psychologists.

What's the difference between a psychologist, a counsellor, and a psychotherapist?
A psychologist is AHPRA-registered with verified training, a regulated code of conduct, and Medicare eligibility. "Counsellor" and "psychotherapist" are unregulated titles anyone can use, with no guaranteed training and no Medicare rebate.

Can a counsellor or psychotherapist get me a Medicare rebate?
No. Medicare rebates through a Mental Health Care Plan only apply to registered providers such as psychologists. Counsellors and psychotherapists are not eligible.

Is a psychologist better than a counsellor?
Not automatically, but a psychologist is regulated, trained to a set standard, and Medicare-eligible. For a diagnosable condition or where accountability matters, that is the safer choice.

How do I check a psychologist is registered?
Search their name at ahpra.gov.au under "Check a health practitioner's registration", and confirm their profession is Psychologist and their status is Registered.