What is the difference between a psychologist / psychological associate versus a psychotherapist or a psychiatrist?
A Psychologist is someone who has completed a Ph.D. or Psy. D. (and previously a B.A. Honours and a Master’s degree) and is titled by law as Doctor in the province of Ontario, and who is registered with the College of Psychologists of Ontario. They are one of two only professions licensed to diagnose mental health disorders; these are a physician, such as your family doctor or psychiatrist or a psychologist. Psychologists have completed the requirements for an academic Ph.D. / Psy.D. plus the training and internships required to be a clinical psychologist. The average is 11 years of university training to become a clinical psychologist plus an additional year post doctoral supervised practice. A Psychological Associate has the same training as a Psychologist, with a Masters degree, minus the Ph.D. / Psy.D. and is governed by the same college, laws and regulations as a psychologist. They may or may not be licensed to diagnose as does a psychologist or physician. They have to pass the sa
