Psychotherapist vs. Psychologist
A psychologist is a university-trained mental health expert; a psychotherapist has completed separate psychotherapy training.
Many people confuse these two professional titles. Here are the differences:
Psychologist
- University graduate (Master's in Psychology)
- Licensed profession by Valvira
- Conducts psychological assessments and evaluations
- May work as a therapist but doesn't necessarily have psychotherapy training
Psychotherapist
- Completed at least 4 years of psychotherapy training
- Licensed title by Valvira
- Specialized in providing psychotherapy
- Background education can be e.g., psychologist, doctor, nurse
Which do I need?
- Psychologist: Assessments, testing, shorter interventions
- Psychotherapist: Long-term psychotherapy