Mental Health Social Worker vs Psychologist - What Are the Differences?
Within the allied health space, particularly where mental health is concerned, it can be hard to know what support will suit you and your situation best. If you or someone you know is having to make a choice between a mental health social worker or a psychologist, for support with a psychosocial disability or mental health condition, there are quite a few things to consider.
Before you even get to that point, it’s important to understand the differences between these two allied health professions, to ensure you make the right call at a crucial time.
In 2024, there were an estimated 3,400 accredited mental health social workers in Australia, and in December 2025, there were over 50,000 registered psychologists in the country - both professions are only growing in size. Many might not know the differences between the two, and while there is crossover, these are two very distinct roles, especially for NDIS participants who require support as part of their plan.
What is a Mental Health Social Worker and What Do They Do?
Mental health social workers usually possess an educational background in social work, whether it be a Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree, or equivalent experience and qualification. Working to provide essential support and therapy, social workers are able to look at your everyday life more holistically, which extends to offering assistance with daily living tasks, building and managing relationships, navigating the NDIS, managing housing and transport, and more.
On the day-to-day, mental health social workers are usually blending both clinical and practical support to help their clients. With this in mind, social workers (like ours at Ark Support Coordination) might usually be out-and-about, working with clients and organisations within their communities to build capacity, implement positive behaviour support strategies, and more.
What is a Psychologist and What Do They Do?
Psychologists are experts in human behaviour, thoughts and emotions, who have usually completed a mix of education and supervised practical training. By the time they’re practicing, psychologists are considered specialists in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders like anxiety, bipolar and schizophrenia. Many people associate psychologists with one area of their work, which is talk therapy, but they’re also able to conduct evaluations and identify learning challenges.
Psychology roles are filled across a few different focus areas, from clinical (for support while living with a complex mental health condition) and counselling (support for everyday challenges), to educational and developmental (assessment of cognitive functioning) and organisational (building leadership skills in the workplace).
Depending on their clients and the situation, psychologists might collaborate with doctors and other healthcare professionals. This means they’re usually based within hospitals, clinics or their own private practices.
Do I Need a Mental Health Social Worker or a Psychologist?
The answer to this question is ultimately decided by the support that you’re looking for. While both of these professions are highly trained and experienced, they have distinct focuses. Mental health social workers work with their clients to tackle social and systemic issues, while psychologists use clinical methods like talk therapy and counselling to support their clients and their mental wellbeing through ongoing support.
If you or your loved one is looking for someone who can provide more general everyday support or even clinical testing, a psychologist might be the right fit. However, if you’re looking for someone who can help support you to achieve your long-term goals, build your capacity and gain long-term independence, this leans more into mental health social worker territory. No matter the choice, it’s clear that both professions are extremely important in supporting mental wellbeing, but from different angles and areas of expertise.
Not Sure of Your Next Steps From Here?
Although our team at Ark Support Coordination aren’t Accredited Mental Health Social Workers (AMHSW), if you’re already a NDIS participant and under the NDIS Improved Daily Living funding, working with a social worker or one of our specialist support coordinators can be beneficial to help answer these sorts of questions. From there, you may be recommended to or connected with mental health social workers and psychologists, among other allied health professionals as needed.
With a foundation built on social work, our team works to understand participants’ situations and needs, while also ensuring a high level of person-centred and values-driven support that makes a real difference. If you have questions or would like to chat about your options under your current funding plan, get in touch with us online, or by calling (08) 6373 7500.