Four similar words that are not interchangeable
When looking for mental health support, professional titles can quickly become confusing: psychologist, psychiatrist, psychotherapist and therapist. All of these professionals may offer some form of care or support, but they have not necessarily completed the same training, do not have identical competencies and are not governed by the same rules.
Language adds another layer of confusion. In everyday English, therapist is widely used for the person someone sees for therapy. That person may indeed be a psychologist, but the word does not mean psychologist by definition. Therapist is usually an umbrella term describing a function, while psychologist is the accurate translation of the French word psychologue.
This article starts with Belgium, where Yachay currently operates, and then compares France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and the United States. Because regulations can change, always check a professional’s current title and registration with the relevant authority.
What is a psychologist in Belgium?
In Belgium, the title psychologist has been protected by law since 1993. Someone cannot use it simply because they support clients or have completed a few short courses. They must hold a recognised psychology degree and be registered on the list of the Commission of Psychologists. The rule also applies to compound titles such as occupational psychologist, neuropsychologist and clinical psychologist.
Being a psychologist does not automatically mean that someone offers psychotherapy. Psychology includes clinical practice, occupational psychology, research, teaching, neuropsychology and school psychology. Some psychologists therefore do not see patients at all.
Additional requirements apply to the practice of clinical psychology in Belgium. A professional needs recognition from the competent Community and a licence to practise, or visa, from the Federal Public Service for Health. Clinical psychologists can contribute to the assessment and treatment of psychological difficulties. Depending on their additional training, they may also practise psychotherapy.
You can check whether a person may use the title through the official Commission of Psychologists register. When someone presents themselves as a clinical psychologist, it is also useful to check their authorisation through Belgium’s official healthcare professional tools.
What is a psychiatrist in Belgium?
A psychiatrist is first and foremost a physician who then specialises in psychiatry. In Belgium, this requires a medical degree, a licence to practise, registration with the Order of Physicians, specialist theoretical and practical training, and formal recognition as a medical specialist. This medical education is the fundamental difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist or psychotherapist.
Psychiatrists can make medical diagnoses, consider both mental and physical factors, prescribe medication and monitor its benefits and side effects. They can also order medical tests and coordinate hospital care when needed. Some psychiatrists provide psychotherapy if they have trained in it, but not all do.
Treatment does not necessarily mean medication: psychotherapy is also a form of treatment, but it uses psychological methods. Prescribing medication, however, is a medical responsibility. Psychologists, psychotherapy practitioners and psychiatrists can therefore work together. A psychiatric consultation may be especially useful when a medical or medication assessment is needed, or when symptoms are severe, unusual or worsening rapidly.
What does the term “therapist” mean in Belgium?
In Belgium, the word therapist primarily describes someone who provides a therapy. Used on its own, it does not identify a specific profession or qualification and does not tell you enough about the person’s original degree, scope of practice or legal status. Depending on the therapy in question, a therapist might be a clinical psychologist, physician, physiotherapist, occupational therapist or another professional.
In mental health conversations, therapist is often used as a convenient umbrella term. You should not assume from that word alone that the person is a psychologist. Useful questions include: what is your core professional qualification? What exact professional title do you use? Are you licensed or listed on an official or accredited register? What training did you complete in the approach you provide?
This does not mean that someone is unqualified simply because they use the word therapist. It means that the word alone cannot confirm their qualifications.
What is a psychotherapist in Belgium?
Psychotherapy is a form of treatment that uses psychological methods within a professional relationship. Under Belgian law, it is considered a form of mental healthcare treatment rather than a separate healthcare profession with its own independent recognition.
For people who began their studies from the 2017–2018 academic year onwards, independently practising psychotherapy first requires recognition as a physician, clinical psychologist or clinical orthopedagogue. It then requires at least 70 ECTS of additional psychotherapy training and at least two years of full-time professional placement, or the part-time equivalent. Acquired-rights arrangements apply to some people who trained or were already practising before the reform.
A clinical psychologist can therefore also be a psychotherapy practitioner when they meet the conditions, but not every psychologist is a psychotherapist. Conversely, because of acquired rights, not everyone legally practising psychotherapy necessarily holds the title of psychologist.
Do these words mean the same thing in other countries?
France
In France, professional use of the title psychologue is restricted to people with qualifications recognised by law. The title psychothérapeute is also protected and reserved for professionals listed on the national psychotherapist register, subject to theoretical and practical training requirements in clinical psychopathology.
The word thérapeute on its own is much less precise. Readers should examine the complete title, qualifications and registration rather than relying on that single label. A French psychologist is not automatically a psychotherapist, although certain qualifications may provide partial exemptions from parts of the required psychotherapy training.
In France, a psychiatre is a physician specialised in psychiatry. They can make a medical diagnosis, prescribe and monitor medication, and offer other forms of treatment, including psychotherapy when they practise it. The word therefore does not describe a psychologist with an additional specialisation, but someone who first trained in medicine.
United Kingdom
The UK situation can be surprising. The word psychologist on its own is not a legally protected title. However, several specific professional titles are protected, including clinical psychologist, counselling psychologist, health psychologist and practitioner psychologist. Anyone using one of these titles must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council, or HCPC.
The terms therapist, counsellor and psychotherapist are not, by themselves, titles protected by the HCPC. They are common in everyday language. A British person may say “my therapist” when referring to the professional they see, including a psychologist. However, therapist is not an exact synonym for psychologist: it can cover professionals with very different qualifications. Accredited voluntary registers can provide additional reassurance for professions that are not statutorily regulated.
The word psychiatrist has a more precise meaning: it refers to a physician who has completed specialist training in psychiatry. UK psychiatrists are registered as doctors with the General Medical Council. They can diagnose mental disorders, prescribe medication and use psychological treatments. To work as a consultant psychiatrist in most UK health services, entry on the GMC Specialist Register is normally required.
Netherlands
In the Netherlands, the general title psycholoog is not protected by law, so the word alone does not guarantee a particular qualification. More specific titles are protected under the BIG Act, including gezondheidszorgpsycholoog, usually shortened to gz-psycholoog, klinisch psycholoog and psychotherapeut.
Professionals using these protected titles must be listed in the public BIG register. It allows patients to check qualifications, entitlement to practise and any disciplinary measures. Membership of the Netherlands Institute of Psychologists or use of the Psycholoog NIP® mark can indicate university-level psychology training, but it does not replace BIG registration when that registration is required for the title being used.
The title psychiater is also clearly regulated. It refers to a doctor registered in the BIG register who has completed the legally recognised medical specialty of psychiatry and is listed in a specialist register. In the BIG register, the qualification appears as arts – specialisme psychiatrie (psychiater). Like other medical specialists, psychiatrists can make medical diagnoses and prescribe medication, while providing or coordinating other psychiatric treatments.
United States
In the United States, regulation is determined mainly at state level. In most states, practising psychology or using the title psychologist requires a licence. Clinical and counselling psychologists commonly hold a doctoral degree, complete supervised experience and pass professional examinations, although exact requirements vary by jurisdiction.
Therapist is frequently used as an umbrella term. It may refer to a licensed psychologist, licensed professional counsellor, licensed clinical social worker or marriage and family therapist. Psychotherapist often describes someone who provides psychotherapy rather than one single academic qualification. To understand a person’s role, look at their full credentials and verify their licence with the relevant state board.
In the United States, a psychiatrist is a physician — holding an MD or DO degree — who has completed a psychiatry residency. They must hold a medical licence in the state where they practise. Psychiatrists can assess both physical and mental factors, make diagnoses, prescribe medication and provide psychotherapy. Certification by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology is an additional voluntary credential and does not replace the state medical licence.
Which professionals are available on Yachay?
At Yachay, only psychologists registered with the Commission of Psychologists are currently accepted on the platform. This requirement helps confirm that they hold a recognised psychology degree and are entitled to use the title of psychologist in Belgium.
If they provide psychotherapy, ask about the legal framework and additional training under which they practise it.
A title is an important reference point, but it does not capture every aspect of good support. A clear framework, ethical practice, relevant experience and a sense of safety in the relationship also matter.