The difference between an NDIS Counsellor and NDIS Psychologist.

As a counsellor that works a lot in the NDIS space, I regularly get asked the question- “What is the difference between NDIS Counselling and NDIS Psychology?”

Generally speaking, a NDIS Counsellor will work on more day to day and practical issues. A counsellor may provide strategies on things such as  building boundaries, supporting anxiety management and interpersonal skills. NDIS Counsellors can provide a safe space for talk therapy that enables the client to find solutions to the problems they are having and can look at patterns of behaviour.

NDIS Psychologists may also provide similar practical skills but they are also highly skilled in research skills and they have the ability to form a diagnosis. An NDIS Psychologist might also do long term care of people that have significant mental health issues and need to do some in depth work that is quite complex.

In the NDIS world, it is quite common for an NDIS Psychologist and NDIS Counsellor to be working alongside each other for the benefit of the participant and this collaborative approach can be one that provides the best support to the person in need.

And as always, the most important thing is that the participant is working with a Counsellor or Psychologist that they feel safe with, heard by and comfortable to openly share their thoughts and feelings with.