Types of Psychologists
Have you wondered what the differences are between a Provisional Psychologist, General Psychologist, Clinical Psychology Registrar, Educational and Developmental Psychology Registrar, Clinical Neuropsychologist, Clinical Psychologist, Senior Psychologist, or Forensic Psychologist?
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Scroll through the list below to understand the similarities and differences.
Provisional Psychologist
A Provisional Psychologist is, like all psychologists, registered with the Psychology Board of Australia, AHPRA. A Provisional Psychologist is a psychology graduate undertaking supervised practice or postgraduate training to develop clinical skills before gaining full registration. This involves internships and/or placements with close supervision by an AHPRA-approved supervisor.
They are required to complete a specified number of hours in client work, supervision, and professional development while demonstrating competency in a range of key psychological skills.
Medicare and most private health funds do not offer rebates for Provisional Psychologists. As a result, their fees at My Psych Clinic are lower than our other psychologists.
General Psychologist
General Psychologists are registered psychologists with the Psychology Board of Australia, AHPRA, with a minimum of six years of university education and supervised experience. They work across various areas and provide evidence-based therapy. General psychologists can assess, diagnose, and treat a wide range of psychological concerns, helping clients build resilience and improve their well-being.
Sessions may be eligible for Medicare and private health fund rebates.
Clinical Psychology Registrar
A Psychology Registrar is a registered psychologist with postgraduate qualifications undergoing advanced supervised training toward an endorsement as a Clinical Psychologist. After completing a postgraduate degree in clinical psychology, registrars must undertake a minimum number of hours of supervised practice over approximately two years, applying their knowledge in real-world clinical settings. This period refines expertise in assessment, diagnosis, and evidence-based interventions for a variety of presenting concerns. Clinical Psychology Registrars work under the supervision of experienced AHPRA-approved clinical psychology supervisors, ensuring they meet the high standards set by the Psychology Board of Australia. Once endorsement is achieved, they are able to use the title, Clinical Psychologist. Medicare and private health fund rebates may be available with a valid referral.
Educational and Developmental Psychology Registrar
An Educational and Developmental Psychology Registrar is a registered psychologist undertaking a structured period of supervised training to gain endorsement in Educational and Developmental Psychology. This specialised area focuses on understanding how people learn, grow, and develop across the lifespan, addressing cognitive, emotional, social, and behavioural challenges. Some psychologists working in this space choose to work with a specific age range.
At My Psych Clinic, our registrar works only with clients under 14 years of age. To achieve endorsement, registrars complete approximately two years of supervised practice, working under the guidance of experienced endorsed psychologists. Throughout this period, they develop and demonstrate expertise in assessing developmental, learning, and behavioural difficulties and diagnosing conditions. Educational and Developmental Psychology Registrars play a vital role in helping individuals overcome challenges related to learning and development, supporting children, adolescents, and adults through evidence-based strategies.
Once they complete their registrar program, they are able to use the title, Educational & Developmental Psychologist and offer specialised services tailored to education and development.
Medicare and private health fund rebates may be available with a valid referral.
Clinical Psychologist
A Clinical Psychologist is a mental health professional working in assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of psychological symptoms, disorders, emotional challenges, and behavioural issues. They conduct comprehensive intake assessments, develop individualised treatment plans, and provide therapy to support clients in their mental health journey. They may work with individuals, couples or families. Beyond direct client care, Clinical Psychologists also collaborate with other healthcare professionals, offering expert consultation to enhance client outcomes. They may work with individuals, couples, families, and groups.
Medicare and private health rebates may be available with a valid referral.
Clinical Neuropsychologist
A Clinical Neuropsychologist assesses and treats individuals experiencing cognitive, emotional, and behavioural changes. They conduct comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations to examine memory, attention, problem-solving, language, and other cognitive functions, helping to diagnose and manage conditions such as traumatic brain injuries, strokes, epilepsy, dementia, and movement disorders like Parkinson’s Disease.
They provide tailored recommendations for rehabilitation, therapy, and lifestyle adjustments to improve the client’s daily functioning and overall quality of life. They have qualifications in both clinical and neuropsychology and may also deliver clinical psychology services.
Medicare and private health fund rebates may apply with a valid referral.
Forensic Psychologist
A forensic psychologist works with legal and criminal justice issues. They may assess and evaluate for legal cases, including for victims, offenders, and witnesses and may also provide expert opinion for court.
They may work in areas such as child protection, behavioural and relationship challenges, family services, trauma-informed therapy, alcohol and other substance abuse and rehabilitation.
Senior Psychologist
A Senior Clinical Psychologist at My Psych Clinic works as an advanced mental health professional responsible for providing expert psychological assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.
In addition to direct client care, they provide consultation to other healthcare providers, contribute to professional development, and supervise Provisional Psychologists, Registrars and early career psychologists. With a number of years experience, Senior Psychologists support the practice’s broader educational and supervision initiatives. Their expertise makes them a key resource for both clients and colleagues in a fast-paced, client-centred environment.