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Related Professions

Psychologists are not the only professionals involved in the care of people with mental health problems. They often work closely with those in other fields, particularly in the NHS. Here we have tried to explain some of the most common related fields and professions.

Psychiatry

Psychiatry tends to see mental distress as being a symptom of a ‘disorder’. For example, lack of sleep or feelings of anxiety are symptoms of serious depression, which can be caused by wrong amounts of chemical substances in the brain. Boosting the levels of these can relieve the symptoms of depression.

Psychiatrists will have a medical degree; they will also have completed two years of foundation training and a further six years of speciality training within psychiatry. Because they have medical training, psychiatrists can prescribe drugs to alleviate distress (something other psychology-related professionals cannot do).

The Royal College of Psychiatrists is the professional and educational body for psychiatrists in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.

Counselling

Counselling is a way to explore the thoughts and feelings that may be causing difficulties in your life. There are a number of recognised but distinct methods of counselling, typically humanistic, psychodynamic, cognitive or behavioural. So, counselling has developed from a theoretical base but not necessarily one that incorporates psychology.

Practitioners will want to be sure that what they offer is appropriate for you so they will be happy to explain their approach.

There are no legal minimum qualifications necessary to practise as a counsellor in the UK but many counsellors are members of a relevant professional association, such as The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, who have a list of accredited counsellors. Counselling psychologists will have undergone psychological training.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is the practice of alleviating psychological distress through talking rather than drugs; indeed, it is often referred to as talking therapy. Some people use the terms 'counselling' and 'psychotherapy' interchangeably and there is much overlap between the two.

There are many different types of psychotherapy, and many ways of being trained, but the British Psychological Society believes that psychotherapy is best regarded as a post-qualification for someone who may be already working as a psychiatrist, psychologist or other mental health professional.

The Society operates it own Register of Psychologists Specialising in Psychotherapy, this is open to appropriately qualified Chartered Psychologists and identifies those psychologists who have specialised in psychotherapy.

The United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy and The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy also publish registers listing approved psychotherapists.

Life coaching

The term coaching has become a popular name to encompass techniques that help clients make improvement in their life and achieve personal goals.

Coaching is not targeted at psychological illness but psychologists can be coaches and British Psychological Society has a group dedicated to the psychology of coaching, the Special Group in Coaching Psychology. Again, there are no legal minimum qualifications to become a coach, although there are a number of self-appointed accreditation bodies.

Other types of therapy

Art Therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses the creation of art or craft to express and communicate issues that can then be explored via therapy. See the British Association of Art Therapists for further information.

Dramatherapy has as its main focus the intentional use of healing aspects of drama and theatre as the therapeutic process. See the British Association of Dramatherapists for further information.

Psychoanalysis is based on the work of Sigmund Freud and explores unconscious conflicts of feeling, emotion and fantasy that could be at the root of symptoms and problems. You may also hear of psychoanalytic psychotherapy, which draws on theories and practices of analytical psychology and psychoanalysis. See the British Psychoanalytical Council for further information

The Society’s Directory of Chartered Psychologists may also contain details of psychologists specialising in these particular areas.