Counsellor / psychotherapist
Practical work on what is happening now: anxiety, relationships, anger, grief, trauma, confidence and life transitions. No referral, no diagnosis, no rebate.
Melbourne guides · 02
Counsellor, psychologist or psychiatrist — which do you need?
A plain comparison of the three, so your time and money go to the right professional the first time.
In short
A counsellor works on present difficulties, patterns and practical skills. A psychologist is AHPRA-registered and can diagnose, assess and attract a Medicare rebate with a GP mental health treatment plan. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who prescribes. Melbourne Counselling Centre provides counselling and psychotherapy only — no diagnoses, assessments, medication or Medicare rebates.
Counsellor, psychologist and psychiatrist compared
| Question | Counsellor / psychotherapist | Psychologist | Psychiatrist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Can diagnose | No | Yes | Yes |
| Can prescribe | No | No | Yes |
| Formal assessments and reports | No | Yes | Yes |
| Medicare rebate available | No | Yes, with a GP mental health plan | Yes, with a GP referral |
| Referral needed | No | Not for private fee; yes for a rebate | Yes |
| Typically best for | Relationships, trauma recovery, anger, grief, stress, confidence, life transitions | Diagnosis, assessment, rebated therapy, complex presentations | Medication review and psychiatric illness |
Anne Evans is a counsellor and psychotherapist. Where you need the middle or right column, you will be told and referred.
The titles are often used interchangeably and they are not the same. A counsellor or psychotherapist works with present difficulties, patterns and skills. A psychologist is registered with AHPRA and can provide diagnoses, psychometric assessments and reports, and attracts a Medicare rebate when you have a GP mental health treatment plan. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can prescribe medication.
Anne Evans is a counsellor and psychotherapist. This practice does not provide diagnoses, clinical assessments, medication, or insurance and medico-legal reports, and the Government Mental Health Care Plan does not cover counsellors. If what you need sits outside that scope, you will be told plainly and pointed towards the right professional.
Psychologist
Registered with AHPRA. Can diagnose, assess and report, and Medicare rebates apply with a GP mental health treatment plan.
Psychiatrist
A medical specialist. Prescribes and manages medication, and handles complex psychiatric presentations.
What happens here
Counselling and psychotherapy, including trauma resolution with TRTP — chosen to fit the person rather than a diagnostic label.
Questions people ask
Can I claim Medicare for counselling?+
No. Medicare rebates apply to registered psychologists and some other providers, not to counsellors. There are no private health rebates on these sessions either.
When should I see a psychologist instead?+
When you need a formal diagnosis, a psychometric or ADHD assessment, an NDIS or insurance report, or a rebated service. Those are the situations where a psychologist or psychiatrist is the correct referral.
What if I start here and need something else?+
You will be told. Where a medical review, an assessment or a specialist service would serve you better, that is said early rather than after ten sessions.
More Melbourne guides
Counselling Melbourne
The practice, the fees, the process — everything a Melbourne client asks first.
Counsellor or Psychologist?
The honest comparison — including what this practice does not do.
Affordable Counselling Melbourne
What sessions cost, why no rebate applies, and free options if the fee is out of reach.
Therapy Approaches
CBT, mindfulness, solution-focused work and TRTP — what each is actually for.
Counselling Near Me
Melbourne, regional Victoria, Australia and New Zealand — how "near me" works now.
Your First Session
The first fifty minutes, start to finish, so none of it is a surprise.
Counselling vs Therapy
The words are used interchangeably. Here is what each actually means.
For GPs & Referrers
Scope, suitability and how to refer a patient to this practice.