Therapy Terms Explained
Mental health services can include a lot of professional titles and terms. Some of these are regulated qualifications, some describe a person’s role within our practice, and others describe additional training or areas of experience.
This page explains common terms in plain English so you can feel more confident when choosing a clinician or understanding your care.
A note about choosing the right clinician
Choosing a clinician is not just about a title. It is also about the clinician’s experience, therapeutic approach, areas of interest, availability, and whether you feel comfortable and understood.
Different professionals can offer valuable support in different ways. Our intake process is designed to help you find a clinician who may be a good fit for your needs.
Clinical Lead
A Clinical Lead is usually an experienced clinician who provides guidance and support within a therapy team.
Their role may include supporting clinical quality, helping clinicians think through complex client needs, contributing to safe and ethical practice, and supporting the development of the broader team.
A Clinical Lead may or may not be directly involved in a client’s care. Their role is often behind the scenes, helping the practice maintain a thoughtful, consistent and clinically sound approach.
Clinical Manager
A Clinical Manager is an experienced clinician who helps guide and support the clinical work of a practice or service.
Their role may include supporting clinicians, helping with clinical decision-making, overseeing quality and safety processes, and making sure clients receive thoughtful, ethical and appropriate care.
A Clinical Manager may also help with team development, supervision, intake processes, risk management, and reviewing how services are delivered across the practice.
In many cases, a Clinical Manager works behind the scenes rather than being directly involved in every client’s therapy. Their role is to help the clinical team provide consistent, safe and high-quality care.
Clinical Psychologist
A clinical psychologist is a psychologist who has completed additional postgraduate training and supervised practice in clinical psychology.
Clinical psychologists often work with people experiencing a broad range of mental health concerns, including more complex or long-standing difficulties. Their training includes assessment, diagnosis, formulation and psychological therapy.
This does not mean a clinical psychologist is always the “best” choice for every person. Many psychologists, social workers and counsellors also have significant experience and additional training in particular areas. The right fit depends on your needs, the clinician’s experience, and the therapeutic relationship.
In Australia, clinical psychology is one of the approved areas of practice endorsement for psychologists.
Clients seeing a Clinical Psychologist may be eligible to receive Medicare rebates with a valid Mental Health Treatment Plan from their GP.
Counsellor
A counsellor is a trained professional who supports people to talk through concerns, understand themselves more clearly, and find ways to manage challenges in their life.
Counselling can be helpful for stress, grief, relationship difficulties, life transitions, emotional overwhelm, self-esteem, decision-making and personal growth. Some counsellors also have additional training in particular therapeutic approaches or areas of practice.
Counselling is usually collaborative and conversational. The counsellor works with you to explore what is happening, what matters to you, and what might help. The Australian Counselling Association describes counselling as a safe and confidential collaboration that supports mental health, wellbeing and self-understanding.
EMDR Consultant
An EMDR Consultant is an experienced EMDR clinician who provides consultation and support to other EMDR therapists.
They may help clinicians reflect on their EMDR work, develop their skills, understand complex presentations, and work toward EMDR accreditation if that is part of the clinician’s professional goals.
In a client-facing context, an EMDR Consultant is someone with additional experience in EMDR therapy and in supporting other clinicians’ EMDR practice. This does not mean they are automatically the right fit for every client, but it does indicate a deeper level of involvement in EMDR practice, training or consultation.
EMDR Practitioner
An EMDR Practitioner is generally an EMDR-trained clinician who has developed further experience using EMDR therapy in clinical practice.
In Australia, the title “Accredited EMDR Practitioner” has a specific meaning through the EMDR Association of Australia (EMDRAA). It recognises that a clinician has completed EMDRAA-accredited EMDR basic training, undertaken consultation with an EMDRAA Accredited Consultant, and demonstrated clinical experience and capacity to deliver EMDR therapy safely and effectively.
Not every skilled EMDR therapist will necessarily have this accreditation, and accreditation is not the only way to understand a clinician’s experience. It is one helpful marker of additional EMDR practice development.
EMDR Therapist
An EMDR Therapist is a mental health professional who has completed training in EMDR therapy.
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing. It is a structured therapy that can help people process distressing memories, trauma and other difficult life experiences.
An EMDR Therapist may be a psychologist, social worker, counsellor or another eligible mental health professional, depending on their qualifications and training pathway. The term usually means the clinician has completed EMDR training and uses EMDR as part of their therapeutic work.
Intake Clinician
An Intake Clinician is usually the first clinical person involved when someone contacts the practice for support.
Their role is to help understand what the person is looking for, what concerns they are experiencing, and what kind of support may be most appropriate. They may ask about current symptoms, risks, preferences, previous therapy, availability and goals for therapy.
The Intake Clinician helps match clients with a suitable clinician or service. This does not mean making a perfect decision from the very beginning, but it helps create a thoughtful starting point for care.
Mental Health Occupational Therapist
A Mental Health Occupational Therapist is an Occupational Therapist who has specific experience or training in supporting people with mental health and emotional wellbeing.
They look at how a person’s mental health affects everyday life, including routines, relationships, work or study, self-care, emotional regulation, sensory needs, confidence and participation in meaningful activities.
A Mental Health Occupational Therapist may help people develop practical strategies to manage daily life, build independence, reduce overwhelm, improve functioning, and reconnect with activities that support wellbeing.
Their work often has a strong focus on the link between mental health and everyday participation. This means they may explore not only how someone is feeling, but also how they are managing day-to-day tasks, roles, environments and routines.
Mental Health Occupational Therapists are qualified Occupational Therapists. In Australia, Occupational Therapists are registered health professionals regulated through AHPRA and the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia.
Clients seeing a Mental Health Occupational Therapist may be eligible to receive Medicare rebates with a valid Mental Health Treatment Plan from their GP.
Occupational Therapist
An Occupational Therapist, often called an OT, is a qualified health professional who supports people to participate more fully in everyday life.
Occupational Therapists look at how a person’s mental health, physical health, sensory needs, development, environment, routines and daily activities may be affecting their wellbeing and independence. They may help with things like emotional regulation, daily routines, school or work participation, self-care, social connection, sensory processing, functional capacity, and building practical skills.
In a mental health setting, an Occupational Therapist may support people to understand what helps them function well day to day, reduce barriers, and develop strategies that support safety, confidence and participation.
Occupational Therapists are registered health professionals in Australia and are regulated through AHPRA and the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia
Clients seeing an Occupational Therapist may be eligible to receive Medicare rebates with a valid Mental Health Treatment Plan from their GP.
Practice Manager
A Practice Manager helps oversee the day-to-day running of a practice.
Their role may include supporting the administration team, coordinating systems and processes, managing appointments or enquiries, supporting communication across the team, and helping the practice run smoothly for clients and clinicians.
A Practice Manager may not provide therapy, but they play an important role in creating a welcoming, organised and responsive experience for clients.
They often work behind the scenes to make sure the practice’s services, communication and operations are well coordinated.
Psychologist
A psychologist is a registered mental health professional who is trained to understand thoughts, emotions, behaviour, relationships and mental health concerns.
Psychologists can support people with a wide range of experiences, including anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, grief, life transitions, relationship difficulties and emotional wellbeing. They use evidence-informed approaches to help people better understand themselves, develop coping strategies and work toward meaningful change.
In Australia, psychologists are registered through AHPRA (the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) and the Psychology Board of Australia. This means they must meet professional standards for training, ethics, supervision and ongoing learning.
Clients seeing a psychologist may be eligible to receive Medicare rebates with a valid Mental Health Treatment Plan from their GP.
Social Worker
A social worker is a professional trained to support people in the context of their whole life, not just their symptoms.
Social workers often consider the many factors that can affect wellbeing, including relationships, family, community, culture, work, finances, housing, safety, disability, trauma and access to support. They may provide counselling, advocacy, practical support, case coordination, mental health support or help navigating services.
In a therapy setting, a social worker may support people to understand their experiences, build coping strategies, strengthen relationships, and connect with resources that support their wellbeing.
Some social workers also complete additional mental health training and become Accredited Mental Health Social Workers.