Psychologist, Psychotherapist, Psychiatrist or Counsellor?

Psychotherapy, Counselling and Talk Therapy: Start Here

People use words such as psychotherapy, counselling, therapy, talk therapy, therapist, psychotherapist, psychologist and psychiatrist in different ways. A useful first step is to separate general information from the practical question of what kind of support may fit your situation.

Understand the terms

• What psychotherapy means
• Talk therapy in Dublin and online
• Psychologist, psychotherapist, psychiatrist or counsellor?

Find a practical route

• Psychotherapy and counselling in Dublin and online
• Online therapy in Ireland
• Online counselling in Ireland

Check fit and limits

• Make an appointment
• Fees and contact
• HSE talk therapy information
• HSE free and low-cost talk therapy routes
• IACP information and practitioner register

This site is educational and cannot decide what support is right for you. For source and review boundaries, see how this mental health information is written and reviewed and the disclaimer.

You can be forgiven for getting lost in the titles. Psychologist, psychotherapist, psychiatrist, counsellor, therapist: they are often used loosely, especially when someone is trying to find help quickly. The terms do overlap, but they are not the same. This guide is written for readers in Ireland, so you can ask more precise questions before committing to a form of support.

For clarity, Dr Jonathan Haverkampf is a psychiatrist and psychotherapist, not a psychologist or counselling psychologist. If what you need is a psychological assessment, a psychologist, or a service with a different professional remit, it is worth looking for that specifically rather than assuming any mental health title will do.

When you are ready to look at practicalities, the appointment, fees, and contact pages are available.

A short side-by-side

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor with specialist training in mental health. Psychiatrists can assess mental health from a medical standpoint, diagnose psychiatric conditions, prescribe medication, and, depending on training and practice, also provide psychotherapy. A psychologist is trained in psychology; some psychologists offer therapy, formulation, testing, or assessment, and the Psychological Society of Ireland directory is one route to finding a Chartered Psychologist.

A psychotherapist is trained to work through talking therapy, the therapeutic relationship, meaning, emotion, and the patterns in a person’s life. Psychotherapists may come from a range of backgrounds and therapy traditions. A counsellor is also a talking-therapy practitioner and may help with stress, grief, relationships, life difficulties, and mental health concerns. In everyday use, the line between counselling and psychotherapy is often blurred. Therapist is a broad catch-all term, so it is sensible to ask what kind of therapist the person is and what they are qualified to offer.

Which professional should I contact?

So who should you contact? If medication is part of the question, if there is a complex medical history, or if a formal psychiatric assessment is needed, a GP or psychiatrist is often the right starting point. For autism or ADHD assessment, cognitive testing, or a formal psychological report, a psychologist may be the more appropriate route. If what you want is a private room to talk things through, whether depression, OCD, trauma, grief, relationships, stress, or self-understanding, psychotherapy or counselling is more likely to fit.

There is no hierarchy in this. The right choice comes down to practical fit, the person’s training and experience, their way of working, and whether you feel able to speak openly with them.

Useful questions to ask before starting

Before starting, it is reasonable to ask about training, registration, areas of competence, fees, session format, cancellation policy, and review points. It is also fair to ask what the practitioner actually provides: psychotherapy, counselling, assessment, diagnosis, medication review, reports, or something else. A good first contact should also make clear what happens if symptoms become urgent between sessions, and how confidentiality, record keeping, supervision, and safety exceptions work.

How this relates to Jonathan’s service

Jonathan’s service is primarily psychotherapy and counselling in Dublin and online, drawing on a background in psychiatry and academic work on psychotherapy and communication. If you would like to see whether the work sounds relevant for what you are facing, the service pages may help: psychotherapy and counselling in Dublin and online, OCD therapy, depression therapy, grief counselling, and trauma therapy.

Medication, diagnosis and urgent risk

Medication decisions need to be discussed with a qualified prescriber who can take the full clinical picture into account. A website cannot diagnose you, and it cannot assess risk. If you might harm yourself or someone else, cannot stay safe, or need urgent help, please contact local emergency services or crisis support rather than waiting for a private appointment. In Ireland, call 112 or 999 in an emergency.

Common questions

Is a psychotherapist the same as a psychologist?

No. Some psychologists practise psychotherapy, and some psychotherapists have psychology backgrounds, but the two words do not mean the same thing.

Can a psychiatrist also be a psychotherapist?

Yes. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who has specialised in mental health. Some psychiatrists also train in and provide psychotherapy.

Should I choose counselling or psychotherapy?

The two overlap in everyday use. It is often more useful to ask about the practitioner’s training, experience, approach, and whether they feel like a fit for what you want to work on.