Social Worker Vs Counsellor.....
Reply With QuoteI'm going to be simplistic about it but anyway:
1) Counsellor. Anyone can spend about $600 and 6 weeks to get counselling certificate and call themselves a counsellor. You could even do it online. There are more qualified counsellors and certain specialties that require a lot more study, such as a genetic counsellor. Many volunteer organisations put their staff through a basic counselling course that covers active listening. In my opinion, this is a skill, not a qualification.
2) Social worker. Has at least a 3-4 year degree. The specialty is in helping people in certain situations and is usually organisation based. Eg I have a friend who is an aged care social worker. She works with the aged and their families in hospital and at home to work out what support they need. Includes some counselling training but an emphasis on practical help. there are some great social workers and there are some poor ones. We dealt with bereavement social workers after DS1 died whose specialty seemed to be waiting for us to cry and patronising us, which has left me somewhat cynical towards the profession. On the other hand, there are some brilliant social workers working in shocking conditions, such as yout, prisons, DOCS and doing an amazing job. There are even some good bereavement social workers. We just didnt see many of them.
3) Psychologist. Has at least a 3-4 year degree which involves a fair bit of rigour. Has then completed either a Masters or a placement (2 years I think) to qualify as a registered psychologist. Is a member of the APS and should have regular supervision. There are many specialities here as well. An organisational psychologist focuses on the workplace, such as change manegemnt or whatever. A counselling psychologist focuses on counselling. A clinical psychologist focuses on mental illness. A trauma pschologist focuses on helping people through trauma etc. Research psychs focus on what is called "rats and stats", and are more interested in research than listening to people's problems. There can be overlap. Again, there are some good ones and some bad ones. After my mc, I saw a counselling pyschologist who spent the time crying about her miscarriages, which was no use to me. I have also seen brilliant psychologists.
In addition, many have there own preferred way of dealing with issues. Some are "behaviour" oriented, where they believe you cannot alter a person's personality, just focus on teeaching them to change their behaviour/way of coping etc. Some love personality tests and helping people concentrate on their strengths (called labelling people by more behavioural minded psychs). Some will use cognitive-behavioural techniques, others Gestalt techniques, others focus on the family as a whole, others on an individual. Some can use all the above and more.
Like any "helping" profession, you get people who are genuinely interested in helping or finding a solution to a specific problem and you also get people who seem to feed off pain and trauma. For some reason, these fields attracts weirdos. It can also attract brilliant people.
There's also psychiatry, which requires a medical degree then specialisation. They focus on mental illness but can also provide general counselling. They usually charge more than pschologists but you can get more back from Medicare.
Are you interested as a career or in finding someone?
Defintely not interested in a career, saw a social worker yesterday and kinda went wtf?!?!
Well, pre-kids, lol.
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