A recent article from The Global News theorized the differences between a Psychiatrist, a Psychologist and a Therapist.  The article came from a perspective of a Psychologist who is through a regulated body.  What is a regulated body? Regulated body is a place where Professionals are under an Affiliated College that provides code of conducts, ethics, guidelines, educational workshops when a person is providing a professional service.  For instance, Physicians are affiliated with their Province (Ontario as an example)/State College, like Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.  Another example , there are different forms of Therapists that are under different Colleges as well, like Psychotherapists are often affiliated with College of Registered Psychotherapists in Ontario and Therapists that have a Social Work background are affiliated with the College of Social Workers and Social Services Workers of Ontario.

But what are the differences?  Besides the Affiliated College, it depends on what a Professional is specializing in. For the purpose of keeping this simple, we are taking the perspective of a Therapist who has a Social Work background.

Social Workers have often been associated with Child Protection Services, Hospital settings and schools. However, there is another perspective of Social Workers that are often ignored.  Social Workers who successfully obtain a Graduate Degree in Psychology or Social Work, can also become a Registered Therapist.

Social Workers who become Therapist are allowed by their affiliated College to call themselves varies Professional Names, such as Registered Social Workers, Therapist, and  Mental Health Counsellor.

Social Workers have the knowledge and training in providing various forms of Therapy such as, Individual, Couple, Family, Group Therapy.  Therapy approaches that a Social Worker can also use but not limited are as follows:

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Exposure Therapy

Play Therapy

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)

Mindfulness

EMDR

Person-Centered Therapy (Client-Centered)

Therapists comes from all walks of life and provides numerous areas of expertise.  Clients have always a choice in choosing what kind of Mental Health Professional they require in becoming a better and stronger individuals.

Education is the key to Awareness and Awareness is the key to Accepting Who You Are!