Knowing how to choose the psychologist who will assist you in psychotherapy sessions is essential. Not only do you have to make sure that he or she will be a psychological assistance professional with sufficient training and qualifications, but you also have to make sure that his or her areas of work and specialisation are compatible with your needs.
Are psychologists and psychotherapists the same thing?
Before answering the question you surely have, How do I choose the best psychologist for me? It is important to establish the differences between a psychotherapist and a psychologist per se. Psychologists are graduates with a degree in this career. But they can specialise in psychotherapy to receive this more advanced training.
The clinical psychologist is responsible for issuing a diagnosis and suggesting the appropriate treatment, especially in the case of a perceived psychological pathology. Meanwhile, the psychotherapist frames a therapy focused on behaviour, emotions, or complicated mental processes. Of course, a psychotherapist must first qualify as a psychologist.
Make sure they are psychologists
In many countries, psychologists are only those who have completed a degree in Psychology and therefore have a Bachelor’s or University Degree in this discipline. However, if you are looking for a psychologist who will treat you as a patient, there is something else you should keep in mind, which we will discuss in the following advice.
Look at their postgraduate training
To provide psychotherapy or therapy, one must have completed at least one postgraduate training programme or master’s degree. Look at the areas where they have continued learning beyond the basics provided by a degree in psychology, and look for information about the centres and institutions where they have completed these postgraduate or master’s degrees.
Choose a professional who is familiar with your problem
Some psychologists specialise in couples therapy, addiction therapy, and a host of other specialties. It is crucial that when choosing the ideal therapist, so you make sure that their experience is consistent with your needs. For example, in cases where a possible eating disorder is noted, the professional should be prepared to take on the case.
Check the psychologist’s years of experience
This is an aspect worth considering but it should not necessarily be everything we base our choice of psychologist on. While years of experience can prepare the professional to polish his techniques and strengthen his experience, there are also professionals who do not have as many years of service in their profession but who, due to their motivation and great intellect, manage to make an exemplary approach. Likewise, this can give you more security when choosing a therapist.
Consider the type of therapy that is ideal for you
In other posts, we have talked about psychoanalysis and its techniques, such as hypnosis. We have also discussed Gestalt therapy and many other classic and modern approaches to psychological therapy.
Each of these approaches offers certain benefits framed within certain therapeutic objectives. It is important to make the right choice when selecting a professional who performs an approach consistent with your needs.
For example, psychoanalysis helps to correct past traumas, as well as cases of phobias and situations such as insomnia. Therapy based on the cognitive-behavioral approach can help treat cases of addiction.
Make a price comparison
If you have asked yourself how to choose the best psychologist, you may have thought about prices. Without a doubt, to acquire any service it is worth knowing how much we have to invest and whether or not this falls within the usual costs.
Something that can help you considerably is to ask all the details about the price. Not only about the value of the consultations. But about their duration, and it is advisable to do this from the first session or even before starting the process.
Generally, a psychological consultation lasts 45 minutes. But there are slightly longer therapies like those based on psychoanalysis, which can last more than an hour.
Consider their experience in approaching children or adolescents
Some psychologists specialise in children or adolescents. Others leave aside that specialisation and focus on the approach for adults. It is important that you select a professional taking into account the profile of patients they usually treat. There are therapists who have master’s degrees in treating children, for example, and that is undoubtedly a plus because it indicates an advanced ability to carry out any case regardless of the complications that may arise.
Pay attention to whether they use pseudoscientific language
Another tip for detecting warning signs when choosing a psychologist (and therefore, ruling them out) is the use of language full of pseudoscientific concepts or that allude to a practically magical reality. For example, ideas such as that mental disorders are a consequence of the past lives of our ancestors, or that we must let the energy of the disorder manifest itself in our body, or that water has memory, etc.
To detect them easily, we must remember that psychotherapy is fundamentally a psychological intervention aimed at unlearning certain behaviors and learning others, in a similar way to how we do it even unconsciously in our day-to-day life outside the consultation, but in this case, being guided by behavioral professionals.
Trust and confidentiality are key
Finally, to choose the ideal psychologist, it is important to verify that he or she is a professional who inspires confidence. It is not only about being the most educated and qualified on a technical level but also about projecting confidence and giving friendly and close treatment. Although the latter will also depend on the approach on which the therapy is based.
Takeaway
Psychology has several specialisations that allow a professional to excel in one area over another. In many cases, it is better to choose a therapist whose training is consistent with our needs. Starting psychological counselling can be difficult at first, especially when you are not used to it. Likewise, it is important to choose a good psychologist to have a better therapeutic experience. Consider the psychologist’s rates, years of experience, specialty, and the other factors on this list before making a decision.
Samantha Green, a psychology graduate from the University of Hertfordshire, has a keen interest in the fields of mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.
