Disclaimer – This blog is written from gathering personal experience as Ms Aarti Ahuja is pursuing her PhD and required technical information for the Indian scenario
In India, the terms therapist and counselor are often used interchangeably, but they can have distinct meanings depending on the context. The lack of a formal regulatory body for mental health professionals in India adds to this ambiguity, but here’s a general distinction:
| Counselor | Therapist |
| Training & Focus Counselors typically provide short-term guidance for people dealing with specific life issues, such as relationship problems, career challenges, or stress management. Their training often includes psychology or a related field, but they may not have specialized training in deep therapeutic techniques. | Training & Focus Therapists generally have more advanced training, often in fields like clinical psychology, psychotherapy, or social work. They may use various therapeutic techniques (like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychoanalysis, etc.) to address mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, trauma, or other psychological issues. |
| Role Counselors often focus on talking through issues, offering coping strategies, and guiding people toward solutions. They help clients develop skills to deal with everyday problems and improve personal growth. | Role A therapist works with clients on deeper emotional or psychological issues and typically engages in longer-term treatment. They help individuals uncover root causes of mental health challenges and use therapeutic methods to foster healing and coping. |
| Scope The work tends to be less intensive and more solution-focused compared to therapy. Counselors might help clients navigate challenges, but they don’t usually address deep psychological disorders. | ScopeTherapy can involve a range of treatment for mental illnesses or long-term emotional distress, addressing both the symptoms and the underlying causes. |
Regulatory Context in India:
Since there is no centralized regulatory body for mental health professionals in India, qualifications, scope, and ethical standards can vary greatly. Mental health professionals may hold degrees like M.A. or M.Sc. in Psychology, M.S.W., or specialized training in counseling or therapy. The qualifications may not always be standardized, which is why it’s important for clients to verify the credentials of professionals before seeking help.
In India, professional bodies like the Indian Association of Clinical Psychologists, Indian Association Applied Psychology etc or other peer lead associations exist, but they don’t provide a strict regulatory framework for the entire mental health profession, leading to discrepancies in the roles and definitions of counselor and therapist.
Ultimately, the distinction between the two professions may vary depending on their specific training, expertise, and the treatment methods they use.
Concluding the observations as practicing Mental Health Professional , our degrees and professional development help us embark on the role of being a Psychologist with regulatory ambiguity around titles and designation of a professional’s personal ethics and integrity lead the way.
Tatava Studio Simplifying Wellness is open to help and support other Mental Health Professionals , nurture newer professionals and collaborate on research social media awareness activation and create a strong referral system for existing Mental Health Professionals.
It is trial and error finding the right Mental Health professional for yourself, but we are here to help you on your journey. You can choose us or we can refer you to others in our network!
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