Your mental health affects your physical well-being, productivity, and happiness. Addressing mental health concerns with a professional is the first step towards achieving a positive mindset and lifestyle. The three main types of mental health professions are therapists, psychologists, and counselors. In this blog, we review the differences, similarities, capabilities, educational requirements, and cost of a therapist vs psychologist vs counselor.

Key Takeaways
  • Learning the difference between a therapist vs psychologist vs counselor is vital to getting effective support and treatment.
  • Psychologists can make diagnoses and prescribe medications, but therapists and counselors cannot.
  • People in all age groups can benefit from seeing either a counselor, psychologist, or therapist.
  • In addition to mental health concerns, therapists and psychologists also help people with learning disabilities, behaviour challenges, and cognitive disorders.
  • Psychological assessments can only be performed by a registered psychologist, not a therapist or counselor.
  • The costs of therapy vs counseling vs psychology vary from as low as $50 to over $2500.

Therapist vs Psychologist vs Counselor

Before you begin your mental health journey, it’s important to determine the which health care professional is most suitable to provide treatment and help you reach your goals. Although the terms counselor, therapist, and psychologist are often used interchangeably, they’re not synonymous.

Here are the details of each profession to help you better understand the duties, capabilities, and educational requirements of a counselor vs therapist vs psychologist:

mental health Therapist

Therapist

Therapists work with and treat individuals in various age groups, couples, and families. They may work in a private practice, rehab facilities, or a public mental health organization. A therapist will use a range of techniques and methods to help people cope with mental, behavioural, and emotional concerns as well as problems with addiction. They help treat conditions such as depression and anxiety as well as assist with personal dynamics and stressors.

A therapist can specialize in one or more areas of expertise and ages depending on their education, knowledge, skills, and strengths within the mental health field. To become a therapist, one must have the following:

  • Education Timeline: Six years.
  • Degree Requirements: A bachelor’s and master’s degree in a mental health field such as family therapy, psychology, counseling, or sociology.
  • Training Requirements: A minimum of 100 hours observing a licensed therapist and a minimum of 600 internship hours with a licensed therapist. At the end of the internship, the individual must pass the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) examination.

Psychologist

A psychologist studies, assesses, and diagnoses psychological, intellectual, social, emotional, cognitive, and behavioural disorders. In addition to one-on-one and group therapy, psychologists also devote time to researching psychological theories, practices, and treatments.

They work in various settings, including private practices, hospitals, community health facilities, and educational institutions. A few of the many conditions they treat include PTSD, schizophrenia, major and minor depressive disorder, bipolar I and II, dissociative identity disorder, and easting disorders.

  • Education Timeline: 9 to 11 years.
  • Degree Requirements: A doctorate in psychology, either a Ph.D. or Psy.D. is necessary to become a psychologist. The doctoral program may focus on clinical psychology or research psychology.
  • Training Requirements: 1,500 hours of supervised field work with a licensed psychologist is required during the graduate program and at least 2 years following graduation. Individuals also need to pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) and register with the College of Psychologists of Ontario.
psychologist
Counselor

Counselor

A counselor is trained to offer guidance, support, and coping strategies to individuals suffering from personal conflicts, emotional challenges, and stressful situations. Counselors use similar techniques and treatment methods as a therapist. Sessions can involve talk therapy, therapeutic goal setting, learning about and practicing coping mechanisms, and goal setting.

Specializations include, but aren’t limited to, family counseling, couples counseling, grief counseling, and addiction counseling. Among their many possible work places are elementary, secondary, and post-secondary schools, private practices, community health centres, and rehab facilities.

  • Education Timeline: Six years.
  • Degree Requirements: A bachelor’s degree as well as a master’s degree in counseling or a related field, such as social work or psychology, is required.
  • Training Requirements: 100 to 200 hours of graduate fieldwork observing a licensed counselor as well as 600 to 700 internship hours are required. To be a counselor one must also pass either the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE). Depending on their chosen speciality, additional exams and certifications may be required.

Counselor vs Therapist vs Psychologist Similarities & Differences

Review the following lists to discover the key similarities and differences between counselors, psychologists, and therapists:

Similarities
  • Goals: Psychologists, therapist, and counselors each work towards bettering people’s lives. Regardless of the situation or methods used, they’re each dedicated to improving their client’s well-being, either psychologically, emotionally, or physically.
  • Training: Despite the differences in degree requirements, counselors, therapists, and psychologists must all undergo years of training. This includes multiple hours of observation and hands-on experience, as well as examinations.
  • Client Obligation: Under the Personal Health Information Protection Act, counselors, therapists, and psychologists cannot share client information or personal details discussed within their sessions without the client’s consent. Exceptions to this rule include suspected intent or ongoing harm to oneself or another individual, such as child abuse. Under those circumstances, they’re required by law to report or disclose that information to parents, guardians, law enforcement, or doctors, depending on the situation.
Differences
  • Prescriptions: One of the main counselor, psychologist, and therapist differences is that a psychologist can prescribe medications. Without a medical degree, counselors and therapists are not legally able to prescribe any form of medication.
  • Diagnosis: Psychologists can make mental health and learning disability diagnoses in Canada. Therapists and counselors can help individuals after they’ve been diagnosed, but they cannot make the official diagnoses.
  • Treatment: A big difference between counselors and therapists is the treatment they provide. For example, counselors typically assist people with emotional challenges, such as managing stress and grief counseling. Therapists assist people with mental health diagnoses like depression and PTSD. They also work with individuals who have learning disabilities, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Counseling vs Therapy vs Psychology Scenarios

Here are situations where a child, teen, or adult could benefit from psychotherapy, therapy, or counseling:

Child

  • Dealing with Loss: The death of a relative or friend is difficult to process at any age, but can be especially challenging for children. Speaking to a counselor can help your child identify and cope with the emotions they’re feeling.
  • Sleeping Problems: It’s common for children to experience nightmares. However, frequent nightmares can be a sign of something more serious. If your child is waking up screaming or crying without any memory of it, they may be experiencing night terrors.

Teen

  • Withdrawing: If your teen has lost interest in spending time with friends or family, they may be dealing with an inner conflict that needs to be addressed in order to move forward. A counselor can help your teen work through the problem if they’re uncomfortable discussing it with a parent or guardian.
  • Stressful Events: Parents getting divorced, failing an exam, or applying to colleges can all be stressful. If ignored, stress can lead to trouble sleeping, difficulty concentrating, and increased muscle tension.

Adult

  • Marriage Problems: Marriage counseling can bring you and your spouse back together during difficult times. It helps rebuild trust, resolve conflicts, and improve communication between one another.
  • Struggling with Loss: Grieving the loss of a friend, parent, or co-worker can leave you angry, depressed, or confused. Counselors provide a safe environment for you to address your grief without judgement and at your own pace.

Child

  • Self-Harming Behaviours: Certain behaviours, including a child biting their nails, chewing on their hair, or picking at their skin, can signify emotional distress and lead to physical harm. A therapist can identify the reason behind the self-harming behaviours and address them without shaming or embarrassing the child.
  • Recent Diagnosis: Therapists can help a child who’s been diagnosed with ADHD or ASD is various ways. They can help them navigate social interactions, identify their emotions, control their behaviours, and manage sensory challenges.

Teen

  • Low Self-Esteem: Teens are particularly vulnerable to self-esteem issues because of the immense stress and pressure they’re under to fit in and perform well in school. Therapists can help your teen become more confident in their own skin.
  • Life Altering Events: Therapy can be beneficial for teens that have recently moved schools, gotten into a car accident, or received a college or university rejection letter. Therapists can provide clarity, offer support, and help your teen move forward.

Adult

  • Unhealthy Habits: Substance abuse, binge eating, and smoking are all examples of unhealthy habits. Therapist can help you break those habits and replace them with healthier ones, such as exercise, meditation, or journalling. 
  • Physical or Emotional Abuse: Therapy is a safe space for abuse victims to heal from the trauma they’ve gone through. Sessions may involve eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), CBT, or DBT.

Child

  • Uncontrollable Aggression: Uncontrollable aggression can be the result of an undiagnosed cognitive or behavioural disorder, such as ADHD or intermittent explosive disorder (IED). A proper assessment and diagnosis is crucial to preventing your child from harming themselves or others.
  • Developmental Delay or Decline: Addressing development delay or decline early is essential to a child’s future. A psychologist help provide a better understanding of what to expect going forward and how you can help your child reach their full potential.

Teen

  • Persistent Sadness: A sudden disinterest in spending time with friends, celebrating events like birthdays, or participating in hobbies can indicate an underlying problem such as depression. If left untreated, depression can lead to self-harm, eating disorders, and suicidal thoughts or actions. A psychologist can make an official diagnose and develop a personalized treatment plan.
  • Extreme Anxiety: Anxiety disorders can be debilitating, taking a major toll on your teen’s nervous system and emotional well-being. A psychologist will be able to develop a treatment plan, such as a combination of medication and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), that helps lower their anxiety levels.

Adult

  • Suicidal Thoughts: Suicidal thoughts can lead to suicide attempts if left untreated. A psychologist may prescribe medications, propose specialized therapy like dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) and/or teach you how to implement positive thinking styles.
  • Significant Mood Swings: 75% of mental health conditions, including major and minor depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, develop in early adulthood. Sudden and extreme mood wings can be an indicator of an underlying mental health problem. This is even more likely if you have a history of mental illness in your family.

Therapist vs Psychologist vs Counselor Costs

Every professional and mental health practice has varying rates for their different types and lengths of therapy and counseling sessions.

For example, at Positive Mind Wellness, prices range from $50 to $2500+ depending on the service.

Therapist vs Psychologist vs Counselor Costs

The following factors influence the cost of therapy, counseling, and psychotherapy sessions and assessments:

Private practices often charge more than public healthcare facilities. This is due to factors such as the reputation of the facility and the professionals working there. Public mental health facilities are also government funded, which allows for lower costs, whereas private practices rely on patient fees to pay salaries, rent office space, and make marketing materials.

Individual and group therapy sessions differ in price for many reasons. For one, individual therapy often costs more because it provides one-on-one support that’s targeted towards specific conditions and treatments. Another factor that therapists, psychologists, and counselors consider is shared costs. When multiple people are paying for the service, the costs are evenly distributed among each individual, which lowers the overall price for each person.

Pricing is also influenced by the length of each session. There may be a minimum hourly rate or a flat rate for sessions under an hour. Some therapists and psychologists also charge a fee for initial 10- or 15-minute consultations.

Therapists and counselors offer sessions that are scheduled over a period of time, such as weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly meetings. A psychological assessment is a type of evaluation that psychologists perform in order to make an accurate diagnosis. They can involve a combination of observation, questions, testing, talking, and listening. Following the assessment, the psychologist will provide a detailed report including a diagnosis, treatment plan, and medication regimen. The specialized expertise, timely commitment, and detailed reporting are some of the reasons why assessments cost more than therapy sessions.

The overall cost of attending counseling or therapy will depend on the number of sessions you have. Short-term conditions may be resolved in as little as 6 to 12 sessions. Examples of short-term conditions include acute stress disorder and emotional distress that’s triggered by an event, such as a divorce. Long-term conditions often require a minimum of 14 sessions and may recur throughout a person’s life. These conditions include major and minor depressive disorder, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.

Average Therapist, Psychologist, and Counselor Costs

To help provide a clearer picture of how pricing fluctuates between professions, we’ve put together a simple cost comparison chart. The chart below compares the average cost for a therapist vs psychologist vs counselor as well as the average length of time per session.

Profession/CostsAverage Rate Per SessionAverage Length of Time Per Session
Therapist$100 to $25050 minutes
Psychologist$250 to $50050 to 60 minutes
Counselor$90 to $20045 to 60 minutes

Get the Support You Need Today

Now that you’ve reviewed a comparison of the educational requirements, job description, and costs of a therapist vs psychologist vs counselor, you can confidently move forward on your path to a healthier and happier life. The Positive Mind Wellness team is composed of the top psychologists, counselors, and therapists in the GTA. We’ve helped many people reach their mental health goals over the last 20 years and plan to do the same for many more. Reach out to us today to learn more about our services, mission, and prices.

Contact Us

Recent Articles

Our Multidisciplinary Therapy Clinic "Near You"

Our Locations

Newmarket16610 Bayview Ave #214, Newmarket, ON L3X 1X3
North York4101 Steeles Ave W #200 North York, ON M3N 1V7
Ottawa1335 Carling Ave #560, Ottawa, ON K1Z 8N8
Nepean - Coming Soon!146 Colonnade Road #15/17 Nepean, ON K2E 7R4
905-798-1808
info@positivemindwellness.ca
Book Now

Positive Mind Wellness Inc © 2025 Website by Homeshowoff