For many people, psychological therapy is considered an effective treatment option for mental and emotional problems. However, to make the most out of each session and experience all the benefits therapy has to offer, you have to choose the right psychologist. This psychologist has to be someone you can trust, one who makes you feel cared for, and has the right qualifications and experience to help you make positive changes.
The right psychologist for you can help you to become stronger, more self-aware, and enable you to overcome your personal issues or challenges. He or she will also help you acquire the attitude you need to deal more effectively with your stress and other problems. However, your psychologist cannot and will not do all the work for you. In order to make the most of your therapy sessions, you must be an active participant. And for you to be active and feel comfortable about talking with and spending hours with your therapist, you need to choose the right psychologist first.
To choose the right psychologist, there are important factors you have to consider. These factors include the following:
The experience of the psychologist – Look for and choose a therapist who has experience in treating the problems or issues that you have. In general, psychologists have special areas of focus or expertise, such as anxiety, stress, depression, addiction, or eating disorders. Psychologists with years of experience have seen the problems you’re facing again and again. As such, they have a wider view and more insight. They won’t waste time reading up on your issues and finding the right therapy or treatment option and techniques. Based on his or her experience, the psychologist will be able to come up the best treatment plan for you and tweak it easily to suit you better, if needed.
The types of therapy or treatment orientations the psychologist provides – A lot of psychologists do or offer a blend of orientations and therapy techniques today. Before choosing a particular psychologist, make sure you know which treatment or therapy types he or she offers and read about them. You can also get ideas about these treatment types from the psychologist. By being knowledgeable about these therapy or treatment types, you can get a good idea if you will be comfortable with them and if you will be willing to undergo them for a period of time.
The psychologist’s credentials – Of course, you want all the money you will invest in your therapy to be worth it and you can do this by making sure the psychologist holds a current, relevant license, and is in good standing with the state regulatory board. Make sure you also check for complaints against the psychologist.
Your instinct – Lastly, even if the psychologist looks great on paper, if you simply don’t trust the therapist or feel like he or she doesn’t truly care for you, go with another choice. As already mentioned, for your therapy to be successful, you need to be comfortable with the psychologist first. Trust your gut instinct when making your final decision as well.
