Do therapists call people patients or clients?

For therapists, the choice to use the term “patients” or “clients” often reflects years of academic debate about the relationship between mental health clinicians (Psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, counselors, therapists, etc.) and those they are seeking to help.

What do you call a patient of a therapist?

In general, clinical psychologists and psychiatrists call their customers, “patients” while counselling psychologists and psychotherapists call them “clients”.

What is the different between patient and client?

As nouns the difference between client and patient is that client is a customer, a buyer or receiver of goods or services while patient is a person or animal who receives treatment from a doctor or other medically educated person.

Should we call patients clients?

The very ill or injured are easily categorized as patients and the not so very ill or injured can be called clients. However, those who think they are ill, but are well, and those who think they are well, but are ill should be categorized as patients although they may want to be categorized as clients.

How do therapists and clients know when treatment should end?

In the midst of talking about confidentiality, payment contracts, and consents, we would be wise to address how the client and therapist know when treatment should end. Ask clients to imagine what life will look like when therapy is over. What would be different? What skills would they possess that they do not currently have?

Why do therapists use different terms?

The term a therapist uses is important—not because of what the patient thinks, but because of what the therapist thinks. Each of the different terms reflects a different ideology on the part of the helper.

Do you have to use client or patient in counseling?

There isn’t a rule in place that requires you to use either client or patient in your practice, but it’s important to determine. While most counselors prefer to use “client,” a psychologist or a psychiatric nurse practitioner, both with many years of schooling and medical training, may use the term “patients.”

Do patients prefer to be referred to as patients or clients?

I’ve heard the argument that it doesn’t. As one clinician said: “I’ve asked patients if they would prefer to be called clients, but they don’t mind what I call them.” Yes, it is true that the people seeking help don’t necessarily care whether they are referred to as patients or clients.