Dr. Syras Derksen

WHAT IS A PSYCHOLOGIST?

Psychologists are professionals who receive extensive education, usually over 10 year of university. There are two things that set psychologists apart from other mental health professionals.

  1. Psychologists’ training focuses on research as well as practice. This helps psychologists to base their practice on the most recent and best science.

  2. Psychologists receive extensive training in using different tools to assess personality and intellectual functioning. This gives them the latest, most proven technology for understanding the most difficult issues mental health professionals face.

Psychologists are trained to treat and facilitate understanding of all types of mental health difficulties, but they are specially trained to treat the complex cases and those problems that weren’t helped by other treatment options.

SUMMARY

– Trained to use latest assessment technology
– Services often covered by insurance

– Extensive education (usually 7 years or more)
– Able to read and conduct research
– Competent to conduct therapy with complex and severe problems

WHAT IS A PSYCHIATRIST?

Psychiatrists also receive extensive training, first having to receive their medical degree and then specializing in mental health. What sets psychiatrists apart from other professionals is their prescription privileges. General practitioners will often prescribe basic antidepressants, but will usually avoid prescribing medication for more complicated mental health issues. For this reason, psychiatrists, who have more training in these medications, often treat more severe mental health difficulties. Although some provide therapy services, most focus instead on providing a diagnosis through a clinical interview and then providing a prescription. Psychiatric services are covered by general medical coverage.

SUMMARY

– Extensive education (medical specialist)
– Able to prescribe medication

– Usually treats severe mental illness
– Services covered in Canada

WHAT IS A COUNSELLOR?

Counsellors come from a wide variety of educational backgrounds including social work, occupational therapy, nursing, and counselling programs. Generally speaking, counsellors receive 1 to 3 years of education focused on providing therapy. There are many counsellors in Winnipeg, so it might be easier to access a counsellor quickly. The services of a counsellor are usually less expensive, but it is less likely that they will be covered by insurance. Counselling services are usually helpful with less serious problems.

Unlike the titles psychologist and psychiatrist, the term counsellor is unregulated (at least in Canada). This means that anyone can legally call themselves a counsellor and start charging fees. Consumers should always be careful to check credentials, but perhaps a bit more so with counsellors for this reason. There are professional associations that counsellors can belong to that provide regulatory oversight, but being a member of these organizations is optional. 

SUMMARY

– Services often less expensive, but may not be covered by insurance
– Trained to conduct therapy with less serious problems.
– Professional regulation is optional

– Normally 1-3 year education (no education necessary)
– Varied types of education (social work, occupational therapy, nursing, and counselling programs)