Psychologist, psychiatrist, counsellor or therapist: what’s the difference?
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can diagnose mental health conditions and prescribe medicine[1]. Psychologists are not usually medically qualified[2], and counsellors and psychotherapists provide talking therapy[7]. In the UK only nine psychologist titles are protected by law; “psychologist” on its own, “counsellor” and “psychotherapist” are not[12], so check a register before you book. On Bliss Therapy you book talking therapy online with psychologists, not psychiatrists, so nobody there prescribes; sessions start from £25 (€30).
By the Bliss Therapy editorial team · Reviewed by the Bliss Therapy clinical team · Facts checked on
The four roles at a glance
| Role | Medical doctor? | Typical training | Where to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychiatrist | Yes[2] | Medical degree, then foundation, core and higher psychiatry training[3] | General Medical Council register (consultants are on its specialist register)[4] |
| Psychologist | Not usually[2] | Psychology degree; a clinical psychologist then does a 3-year doctorate[6] | HCPC register, for the nine protected titles |
| Psychotherapist | Not necessarily[2] | Usually 3 to 6 years part time; most full training is postgraduate[9] | A register accredited by the Professional Standards Authority[7] |
| Counsellor | Not required[8] | A three-stage route that can take 3 or 4 years, to at least diploma level[8] | A register accredited by the Professional Standards Authority[7] |
What does a psychiatrist do?
“A psychiatrist is a qualified medical doctor who specialises in diagnosing, treating and preventing mental health conditions, including prescribing medication”[1]. After a medical degree, which normally takes five years, a psychiatrist completes a two-year foundation programme, three years of core psychiatry training and higher training, and is then entered on the General Medical Council’s specialist register[3]. To see a psychiatrist, you will usually need a referral from your GP[4].
What does a psychologist do?
Psychology is the study of how people think, act, react and interact. Psychologists are not usually medically qualified, and in healthcare they specialise in clinical, counselling, forensic or health psychology[2]. Clinical psychologists train through a three-year full-time doctorate[6], and “are not medical doctors and will not prescribe medication”[5].
What does a counsellor do?
The NHS describes counselling as a talking therapy “where a counsellor listens to you and helps you find your own solutions to problems”[7]. BACP recommends a three-stage training route that can take three or four years, with core training of at least a Level 4 diploma and a supervised placement of at least 100 client hours[8].
What does a psychotherapist do?
A psychotherapist provides talking therapy. They “may be a psychiatrist, psychologist, or other mental health professional who has had further specialist training in psychotherapy”[4]. Psychotherapy training “typically takes between three and six years, part time”, with about 450 hours of supervised clinical practice, and most full psychotherapy training starts at postgraduate level[9].
Is there a difference between counselling and therapy?
The words overlap, and none of “counsellor”, “psychotherapist” or “therapist” is protected by law in the UK[12]. The UK Council for Psychotherapy says its own register is voluntary, “which means that anyone can call themselves a psychotherapist”[10]. What matters more than the word is the person’s training, experience and registration.
Which titles are protected by law?
The job title “psychologist” is not, by itself, protected by law, but these nine titles are, and anyone using one must be on the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) register[11][12]:
- Practitioner psychologist
- Registered psychologist
- Clinical psychologist
- Forensic psychologist
- Counselling psychologist
- Health psychologist
- Educational psychologist
- Occupational psychologist
- Sport and exercise psychologist
Using a protected title without being registered is a criminal offence[12]. Counsellors and psychotherapists are not regulated by law[12], but can choose to join a register accredited by the Professional Standards Authority[13].
How do I check someone?
- Psychologists using a protected title: HCPC register
- Counsellors and psychotherapists: BACP Register, UK Council for Psychotherapy or National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society
- CBT therapists: CBT Register UK
- Psychiatrists: the General Medical Council’s register of doctors, which shows if they are on the specialist register
Who should I see?
If you think you may need medicine or a diagnosis, start with your GP, who can prescribe and can refer you to a psychiatrist or a counsellor[1]. For talking therapy, in England you can refer yourself to NHS talking therapies for problems such as anxiety and depression if you are registered with a GP and aged 18 or over (16 or over in some areas)[14], or see a registered private therapist. If you want talking therapy without a referral, you can also book a psychologist online on Bliss Therapy; for medicine or a diagnosis, you still need your GP or a psychiatrist. See how to find a therapist in the UK for every route.
What about Bliss Therapy?
When we checked on 14 October 2026, 54 of our 58 English-speaking profiles were listed as psychologists and 4 as coaches. Our therapists are qualified in the countries where they live and none of them lives in the UK, so they are unlikely to be on a UK register such as the HCPC’s. We have no psychiatrists, and our therapists do not prescribe medicine. Online sessions start from £25 (€30).
Ask any therapist, on Bliss Therapy or elsewhere, about their qualification and their registration in the country where they practise.
Questions people ask
Is a therapist the same as a psychologist?
Not necessarily. “Therapist” is a general word, and a psychologist may or may not offer therapy. A psychologist’s assessment may lead to you being offered psychological therapy[1], and a psychologist may also train as a psychotherapist[2].
Can a psychologist prescribe medicine?
No. Clinical psychologists are not medical doctors and will not prescribe medication[5]. A psychiatrist or your GP can[1].
Do I need a referral?
To see a psychiatrist you will usually need a GP referral[4]. For NHS talking therapies in England you can refer yourself[14]. For a private counsellor, psychotherapist or psychologist, you can usually contact them directly; the NHS advises checking they are on a register accredited by the Professional Standards Authority[14].
Related pages
- How to find a therapist in the UK
- Online CBT therapy: cost and how to find a CBT therapist
- How much does online therapy cost?
How we checked
Definitions, training routes and rules on this page are from the NHS, nidirect, the regulators and the professional bodies named, opened on 14 October 2026 or on the date shown in the sources. We left out private fees, because we found no official figure, and a total number of years for psychiatry training, because the sources describe it differently. Bliss Therapy figures are from our directory on 14 October 2026; prices are read when this page loads.
Sources
- nidirect, “Mental health care professionals” (opened 14 October 2026)
- NHS Health Careers, “Differences between psychology, psychiatry and psychotherapy” (opened 14 October 2026)
- Royal College of Psychiatrists, “How to become a psychiatrist” (opened 14 October 2026)
- Royal College of Psychiatrists, mental health FAQs (opened 14 October 2026)
- nidirect, “Clinical psychologist” (opened 14 October 2026)
- NHS Health Careers, “Clinical psychologist” (opened 14 October 2026)
- NHS, “Counselling” (page last reviewed 9 October 2025)
- BACP, “Training to become a therapist” (opened 14 October 2026)
- UK Council for Psychotherapy, “Train as a psychotherapist” (opened 14 October 2026)
- UK Council for Psychotherapy, “Our register” (opened 14 October 2026)
- HCPC, “The professions we regulate” (updated 12 May 2025)
- HCPC, “Understanding the regulation of psychologists” (16 January 2023)
- Professional Standards Authority, “Psychotherapist” (opened 14 October 2026)
- NHS, “How to get talking therapies” (page last reviewed 5 November 2025)