It’s a natural step after deciding you wish to see a psychologist, to seek out the best one. The one who will best understand your situation – the psychologist you will feel most comfortable with. The psychologist most likely to provide you with the best possible outcome. OK. So how to find and choose “the best psychologist?”
A quick trip to Google will open up many options all claiming to be the right psychologist for you. How to be sure, looking at all the providers… which psychologist or counsellor will be the best fit for you?
In this guide, we detail the main things to look for in choosing a psychologist. Follow our guide, and a great match, is the likely outcome.
Before we get stuck into the criteria that will help you find the right professional, remember that the best psychologist is the right one for you.
Instead of looking for “the best” psychologist, consider this a search to find the psychologist who best meets your needs. This is the person who:
You may want to start your search with recommendations for psychologists from people you know. If people you trust and value have found meetings with these psychologists helpful, it may ease your mind about speaking with someone new about intensely personal experiences and feelings.
Do consider that just because a friend had a good experience with a particular therapist, that your experience will mirror theirs And that’s okay. Everyone comes from a different place, with backgrounds and experiences that can change how your interactions go and whether or not you feel your meetings are productive or helpful.
As well as asking friends for recommendations, do seek out reviews for both the practice of your potential psychologist and for them personally.
One way to narrow your choice is by taking a close look at your needs:
Once you have your list worked out, identify the three most important criteria. If you know you only want to commute 15 minutes, will only see a woman psychologist, and you need someone who specialises in grief, the list of potential psychologists has probably become much more manageable.
If more than one person will see the psychologist, they must be all included in this part of the process. Have each person create their own list and use it to help identify the psychologist that best fits everyone’s needs.
If anyone fitting those requirements also happens to be on that list of recommended psychologists from your friends, reach out and make an appointment. If not, it’s time to do some searching and have a few sessions to see which psychologist is right for you.
A word of caution, though. This isn’t the time to pick out a name that sounds good to you or choose an option based on a headshot. Don’t be afraid to meet more than one psychologist before you make your final choice. And, if you meet someone who isn’t right for you, don’t feel obligated to continue meeting with them.
Increased access to online counselling has been amazing for mental health, especially during a worldwide pandemic and stay-at-home restrictions and lockdowns. Now we’re moving into a post-Covid era, plenty of people are choosing online therapy over in-person sessions for the convenience factor. Many people feel more comfortable with online video meetings than in person.
It’s not the best choice for everyone though, consider whether you’d prefer to work with your psychologist online or face to face. If you’re unsure, and if online is more convenient, try it to see if it suits you.
Knowing who’s a good fit for your personality and who can help you identify and achieve your goals is a great place to start. If you think you have a pool of potential psychologists who fit the bill, there are a few other things you may want to consider before moving forward with one over the others.
It goes without saying that you want to make sure you’re working with a licensed care provider. Any psychologist in Sydney or anywhere in Australia will need to be registered with the Australian Psychological Society (APS) or the Australian Clinical Psychology Association (ACPA).
Any non-psychologist counsellor should be a member of the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) or the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA).
These groups host databases that can make it easier to find your new psychologist. Or to make it easier, get in touch with us and we’ll help you make a booking with a fully licensed and vetted professional.
You may be hoping to find a psychologist that has significant experience in a certain area. In fact, if you’ve followed that initial step to outlining your needs, you’ve probably identified an area you’d like your psychologist to specialise in.
Unfortunately, you won’t find psychologists in Sydney identified by specialisation. This is due to the advertising guidelines that have been put in place by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
These guidelines have been designed to keep patients safe, but the result is that you won’t be able to search for “specialists.” Instead, look for other indicators about the type of concerns a practitioner or a practice focuses on.
For example, you may see psychologists with a “focus on self-worth and acceptance,” or a practice “experienced with treatment plans for patients with anxiety.” Little snippets like this can give you information about the psychologist and their practice to help you identify their strengths and focuses. Then, you can see how well they align with your needs.
After all, there’s little sense in choosing a psychologist who is a good fit for you otherwise but can’t meet your actual therapy needs.
It might sound funny, but in some ways, trying to find the best psychologist is a bit like dating.
Chemistry matters! That means it’s not just how you feel about the psychologist, but also that they give you confidence that they can help.
A psychologist and patient relationship should be built on mutually agreed goals. The right psychologist for you will never make you feel like you’re one of many patients or like your needs aren’t important. They will show a close and careful interest in understanding the issues close to your heart.
One other way dating and trying to find the right psychologist might be similar – don’t be surprised if meetings with your psychologist aren’t always perfect, or exactly like how you’d wished they’d gone.
Even the best psychologists are still people, and you’re still navigating a relationship with them. This means there can be miscommunications and even hurt feelings. This can be especially true when working with complex emotions and issues.
As you begin to search for your new psychologist, try to keep in mind that it may take some time to find the right psychologist for you. That’s okay and it’s to be expected. Be patient and try to keep in mind that it’s part of your journey, which may well be about making a lifelong change. After you’ve identified a pool of psychologists you think might work for you, you’ll need to start meeting with them.
The best psychologists tend to be constantly fully booked, so finding a great psychologist with available times can be tricky, especially if you are looking for something quickly. This is really where we can help. AC&S has multiple, wonderful psychologists on our team, so we are sure to be able to find a great match for you, with a suitable time slot.
You may not know after your first appointment if this is where the search ends. Instead, commit to a few meetings, and allow yourselves time to get comfortable with each other. After a few sessions, take a thorough look at your experience up to that point and see if you think continuing to meet with that psychologist will be valuable to you. If it feels right – continue. If it doesn’t – you have no obligation to keep someone you don’t feel is helping and can try another psychologist.
You may choose to check out more than one potential psychologist at a time to help you understand if you have a preference. It’s valid to tell a new clinician that you are still learning about the different styles and approaches and that you’d like to have an initial meeting to see if you are a good match. An experienced clinician will be comfortable with your questions and with you taking your time to find a good fit.
Of course, seeing more than one psychologist has the potential to cloud or confuse your feelings in the process. Different approaches can contradict or be out of sync with each other and can make the journey less effective. Once you decide on who to work with, it is good to stick to one psychologist at a time for treatment.
To best manage the process of finding a psychologist, break it down into bite-size, manageable steps:
The most important step is deciding to get help at all. A 2014 study from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare found that more than 50 per cent of people who have mental health issues or illnesses do not seek help.
Thinking about finding a psychologist can be daunting in itself. But the actual process doesn’t need to be. With a little bit of forethought and planning, you may be one of those people giving a psychologist referral to a friend in no time at all.
Associated Counsellors & Psychologists can help. Please get in touch with a member of our friendly team and we’ll help you find the psychologist or counsellor for your unique needs.
Whether you’re located in Sydney or elsewhere in Australia, our network of professional clinicians has you covered.
