Counsellor vs Psychotherapist vs Clinical Psychologist in Singapore
- askloumme
- Dec 23, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 25, 2025
In Singapore, these three labels can overlap in the kind of “talk therapy” people provide, but they are not interchangeable. The main differences are usually about training pathway, scope of work (especially assessment and diagnosis), and professional recognition / oversight.
A key Singapore-specific reality is that professional titles are not always legally “protected”, and much of the day-to-day “credentialing” is done through voluntary professional registers and employer standards. For psychologists, the Government has publicly stated it has been working with stakeholders in 2025 to better support safety and quality, reflecting that the landscape is evolving.
Source: Ministry of Health
Counsellor vs Psychotherapist vs Psychologist in Singapore: What’s the Difference?
Counsellor
A counsellor typically provides structured support for life difficulties such as stress, grief, relationship challenges, adjustment issues, parenting difficulties, and mild to moderate anxiety or low mood. Counsellors often work in social service agencies, schools, family service settings, and private practice.
The Singapore Association for Counselling (SAC) Registry offers a voluntary register of counsellors who meet specified training and ethical requirements. Registration with SAC is widely considered a mark of credibility, but it is not legally required to practise counselling in Singapore.
---
Psychotherapist
A psychotherapist usually refers to a practitioner providing psychotherapy (for example, CBT, psychodynamic therapy, EFT, schema therapy, IFS, etc.). Internationally, “psychotherapist” can be a protected professional title in some countries, but in Singapore, psychotherapy has historically been described by MOH as broad and less well-defined across many settings, making it “impractical to regulate the practice of psychotherapy” at that point in time (MOH statement in a Parliamentary reply).
Currently, there is no single statutory “psychotherapist licence” described in MOH’s position on psychotherapy regulation (as of that Parliamentary reply).
Source: Ministry of Health
Credibility is usually communicated via:
recognised formal training pathways
supervised clinical hours
professional indemnity insurance
adherence to a code of ethics
membership in reputable modality professional bodies (voluntary) Source: Ministry of Health
Many people searching for mental health support are confused by the differences between providers. Understanding the counsellor vs psychotherapist vs psychologist in Singapore distinction helps individuals make informed decisions based on training, scope of practice, and regulatory safeguards, especially as Singapore moves toward stronger professional standards in psychological care.
See a counsellor if you need structured emotional support for life stress, relationships, parenting, grief, or adjustment issues. See a psychotherapist if you want deeper therapeutic work on emotional patterns, trauma, attachment wounds, or long-standing difficulties. See a clinical psychologist if you need formal psychological assessment and diagnosis-informed therapy. See a psychiatrist if medication, medical assessment, or management of high-risk or severe mental health conditions. This is usually complemented with psychotherapy.
Clinical Psychologist
A clinical psychologist is a psychologist trained to work with mental health conditions through psychological assessment (diagnosis) and evidence-based psychological interventions. In many settings, clinical psychologists do psychometric testing, formulate cases, and deliver structured therapies.
Unlike psychiatrists, clinical psychologists do not prescribe medication in Singapore.
Professional Recognition & Policy Shift
Traditionally, psychologists in Singapore have practised under voluntary registration through the Singapore Psychological Society (SPS) and the Singapore Register of Psychologists (SRP). The SRP signals that a psychologist has met certain postgraduate qualifications and ethical standards, but it has not been legally required to practise.
In 2025, Singapore’s Ministry of Health announced plans to implement a mandatory registration system for psychologists. This aims to:
Raise professional standards
Safeguard patient safety
Boost public confidence in psychological services
Standardise qualifications and training requirements before practitioners can offer services publicly
Source: The Straits Times
An inter-agency implementation committee has been formed, and a regulatory framework is expected to be completed by 2026. This will include mechanisms to protect titles and set qualifications for practice, and take action against errant psychologists or those falsely claiming registration.
This marks a significant policy evolution from the previous framework of voluntary registers only.
---
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor (MBBS) who has completed specialist training in psychiatry. Because they are physicians, psychiatrists can diagnose mental disorders, prescribe medication, order medical investigations, and manage mental health conditions from a biological and medical perspective, alongside psychosocial understanding.
In Singapore, psychiatrists are fully regulated healthcare professionals under the Ministry of Health (MOH) and must be registered with the Singapore Medical Council (SMC). They typically work in public hospitals, private clinics, or integrated mental health settings, and often collaborate with psychologists, counsellors, and psychotherapists for therapy-based work.
-
Lou is a psychotherapist specialising in adult developmental trauma, attachment and relational issues, self-worth, and self-discovery. Her work integrates evidence-informed and trauma-aware approaches, with a strong emphasis on emotional safety and reflective practice. Alongside individual and group therapy, she is actively involved in psychoeducation and community-based mental wellbeing initiatives, with a strong emphasis on ethical practice, transparency, and public mental health literacy in Singapore.
