How To Find A Psychologist That's Right For You
Frequently asked questions
How do I find a good psychologist?
Starting therapy starts with finding a good psychologist. To find a good psychologist, you can start by looking through the directory of in-network options provided by your insurance company. You’ll want to search for a therapist who specializes in your area of need, such as a family therapist, or your preferred style of therapy, such as group therapy.
Another way to find a good therapist is to ask friends and family for recommendations. You can also find a good therapist by searching online and reading reviews. However, finding the right therapist isn’t just a matter of a good recommendations or stellar reviews. Because the needs of every individual are unique and therapists all have different personalities and practices used in therapy sessions, you could find a good therapist who just doesn’t click with you.
Interviewing potential therapists before choosing one is a great way to find the right therapist the first time around, but you might not know for sure if you’ve made the right choice until after at least a few therapy sessions. Starting therapy and finding the right therapist may seem like a daunting process, but these tips should help you find potential therapists for the type of therapy you need.
How do I find the best therapy for me?
If you're asking yourself "Where do I find the best therapist for me?", you’ll want to analyze first what you want to get out of therapy. What is your desired outcome for starting therapy? Is it to be happy, or overcome an addiction? Is the therapy just for you, or are you looking to find a therapist for family therapy or marriage counseling?
The type of therapy best for you will be based on your answers to these questions. Find a therapist that offers the type of therapy that’s right for you. For some individuals, this may be CBT in a one-on-one session or group therapy. There are many therapists practicing in the type of therapy you require, so find the right therapist for your needs.
How do you know if someone will be a good psychologist?
Some traits of good psychologists include:
- Being a good listener
- Wanting to help people overcome their problems
- Communicating effectively
- Being open-minded and non-judgmental
- Getting along well with all kinds of people
Despite these common traits, not everyone is cut out to be a psychologist. Lots of therapists are practicing, but that doesn’t mean they’re good at what they do. The best and only way to truly know is to seek out the education necessary to become one and start practicing in your field.
What should I look for in a therapist?
Finding a therapist is similar to finding the right partner. You should strive to find a therapist who is the perfect fit for your personality and expectations. In a potential therapist, you’ll want to look for someone who understands your problem and has the capacity to walk you through recovery. Find a therapist who is a good listener, and someone you feel heard by.
When searching for a potential therapist, first create a list of potential therapists that interest you or ask for recommendations. If you’re seeking a family therapist, speak with a family you know about their family therapy experience, and see if their therapist might be a good fit for you and your family. Then, interview each potential therapist to get a feel for their personality and therapy style.
If you feel comfortable talking to a potential therapist during the course of your interview and feel heard by them, this is a good start. Another way you can test the waters when finding a therapist is to attend a group therapy session led by them. When you find the right therapist, you’ll likely have the gut feeling you’re in the right place.
What are the three types of therapy?
When finding a therapist, it’s important to understand the three major types of therapy used in sessions, which are psychodynamic, behavioral, and humanistic:
- Psychodynamic: developed by Sigmund Freud, who posited that true knowledge of people and their problems is possible by understanding the conscious, unconscious, and subconscious mind
- Behavioral: assumes that the environment determines one’s behavior
- Humanistic: believes everyone has the capacity to grow emotionally and psychologically toward personal fulfillment and self-actualization. There's more about this type of approach in humanistic psychology.
Now that you understand the three types of therapy, find a therapist who uses the type that works best for you. Lots of therapists use one of these three types of therapy styles, but if you find a therapist who uses a style that doesn’t work for you, it’s possibly time to switch therapists. It may take a couple of tries to find the right therapist.
Do you need a referral to see a psychologist?
You typically don’t need a referral to see a psychologist. Lots of therapists don’t require a referral from another physician before starting therapy, which is one less thing you need to worry about when finding a therapist. On that note, you generally do need a referral to see a psychiatrist. Find a good therapist first, and they’ll refer you to a psychiatrist if necessary.
What is the difference between a therapist and a psychologist?
A therapist is a broader term for a professional who is trained and often licensed, to provide a variety of services and treatments to people, including CBT, group therapy, and more. Meanwhile, a psychologist has a Ph.D. or PsyD degree and is required to complete several years of supervised therapy before becoming licensed.
Is it better to see a psychologist or psychiatrist for anxiety?
Counseling psychology versus clinical psychology? It depends on the treatment. Psychologists are better for cognitive or talk therapy, while a psychiatrist is better suited for medication-treated therapy.
Can a psychologist make a diagnosis?
Yes, they can. If you’re just starting therapy, you won’t receive a diagnosis right away (and if you do, this is a red flag), but after a handful of sessions, a well-trained psychologist can make an official diagnosis.
When should I see a psychologist?
Who are good candidates for psychological counseling?
What are the major tasks of a psychologist?
How can psychologists help people with mental disorders?
What are the pros and cons of seeking help from a psychologist?
What is the major objective of psychological counseling?
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