Choosing a psychologist depends on the quality of their practice and the person’s preference. Individuals need to find a qualified psychologist with experience in their area who they feel comfortable with.
The role of a psychologist is to help people with mental health conditions and other general life challenges. It is a position of responsibility.
This article will discuss what a psychologist is, what they can help with, and how to choose one.
A psychologist is a type of doctor who specializes in mental health challenges.
A doctoral psychologist undergoes a significant amount of training to earn their qualification. They usually begin with 4 years of undergraduate study and 4 years of graduate study, followed by additional training and placements.
Psychologists use a background in general science, behavioral science, and neuroscience to help people pinpoint the reason they think, feel, or behave in a certain way.
From there, they work toward finding the underlying cause or trigger. The psychologist can then help individuals work through their problems and change their behaviors if they need to.
Psychologists work with people from a range of backgrounds and personal histories. Some are more general in their practice, while others specialize in certain areas.
What can they help with?
A person may seek a psychologist’s help for various reasons. Reasons may be long term, such as chronic depression, or short term, such as grief.
Other examples include helping people cope with:
Some psychologists specialize or have experience in particular fields of study. A person needs to check whether the psychologist has prior experience with the issue for which they seek treatment.
What makes a good psychologist?
A good psychologist will be competent in their field and provide high quality therapy.
The American Psychological Association (APA) suggests a good psychologist will consider a person’s:
- characteristics
- unique values
- circumstances
- personal goals
A doctoral psychologist should carry a relevant license, having completed doctoral level training and placement.
Some states may recognize certain credentials, while others will not. This is something to check before choosing a psychologist, as their qualification may not be valid locally.
Mental health resources
Visit our dedicated hub for more research-backed information and resources on mental health and well-being.
A psychologist who works well for one person may not have the same result with another. When choosing a psychologist, there are professional and personal factors that people need to consider.
An effective psychologist will be able to work with a person’s individual needs, including the problem itself and how to deliver effective treatment.
Approaches
There are different approaches a psychologist may use depending on the issue.
Choosing a psychologist with experience in the relevant field will increase the likelihood of a therapy plan working. This will partly depend on the type of treatment a person would like to undergo.
A psychologist may use consultations alone or include other methods, such as medication or hypnotherapy. However, it is important to note that they cannot prescribe drugs in all states.
Relationship
For therapy to be effective, a person must feel completely comfortable with their psychologist. Having a good relationship makes it easier to open up about sensitive topics.
A psychologist may work in private practice or as part of another workplace. For example, a school or college campus may have a psychologist on site, and these healthcare professionals often work in general hospitals.
Costs
Treatment fees vary depending on the healthcare environment and factors such as insurance.
Some health insurance companies cover mental health treatment, but this is not always the case. It is important to check an insurance policy to see if it covers psychological therapy.
If a person does not have health insurance, the psychologist may charge using a sliding scale fee policy. This means that they alter the fees depending on the person’s income.
Children’s brains are constantly developing, and there are many reasons that a parent or caregiver may take a child to see a psychologist. Whatever the situation, a child psychologist plays an important role.
It is essential to check the area in which a child psychologist specializes before starting treatment with them.
For example, a child psychologist may specialize in:
- developmental child psychology
- atypical child psychology
- adolescent psychology
These categories rely on different areas of competence and skill.
A developmental child psychologist specializes in more typical situations, such as cognitive development, while an atypical child psychologist will work with less common issues, such as mental health conditions. Adolescent psychologists work with children ages 12 to 18 years.
An initial consultation allows a person to see if they “click” with their psychologist. This is a suitable time to ask more technical questions about the therapy.
The following are some criteria a person may wish to ask about during their initial consultation:
- Check what qualifications the psychologist holds. Also, make sure that they are licensed to practice in the state.
- Ask the psychologist about their experience and interest within the field. This will make it easier to see if they are the right fit for the person.
- Enquire about fees. Check how much treatment will cost and whether or not insurance will cover it.
- Find out what the treatment plan involves. Is the therapy entirely consultation-based, or does the psychologist include any other techniques?
Do not be afraid to ask questions that seem uncomfortable. It is better to be confident in a psychologist and their ability from the start than to realize a mistake after the therapy has begun.
A psychologist can help with many problems. It may be a good idea to seek help if a person is experiencing extreme levels of:
- worry
- sadness
- helplessness
- aggression or other unusual behaviors
A good indicator of when to seek help is if a mental health challenge is affecting a person’s daily activities, such as their sleep or work.
A psychologist may specialize in different areas, such as child, cognitive, or behavioral psychology.
When finding a psychologist, a person needs to choose someone who has experience in the area they are looking for help with. It is also vital to establish a good connection with the psychologist, as they will need to understand personal details so they can help.
It is a suitable idea to ask plenty of questions in the first session with a psychologist. This will lower the likelihood of any unpleasant surprises, such as unexpected fees, later on.
