CHOOSING A PSYCHOLOGIST

The American Psychological Association is a terrific resource for the public. I encourage you to check out their website: http://www.apahelpcenter.org. They have a section entitled “Finding Help: How to Choose a Psychotherapist” that provides excellent information. The following are a few of the questions that they recommend you ask your potential therapist:

• Are you a licensed psychologist? How many years have you been practicing psychology?
• I have been feeling (anxious, tense, depressed, etc.) and am having problems (with my job, marriage, eating, sleeping, etc.).
• What experience do you have helping people with these types of problems?
• What are your areas of expertise - - for example, working with children and families?
• What kinds of treatments do you use, and have they been proven effective for dealing with my kind of problem or issue?

How To Find a Psychologist
There are a variety of sources available in finding a psychologist: your physician or other health professional; friends; family; a community mental health center; your church or synagogue.


Things to Consider in Making Your Choice

• Client/Therapist Fit - Along with assessing their competency, it is important to choose a psychologist with whom you feel a sense of rapport and comfort.
• Finances – If you have private insurance, check to see if you have coverage for mental health. If you don’t have insurance you may decide to pay out-of-pocket. Some therapists offer sliding scale fees.
• Credentials – Psychologists spend an average of 7 years in graduate school training and research before receiving a doctoral degree. They must complete a yearlong supervised clinical internship and at least one year of post-doctoral supervised experience before they can practice independently. They must be licensed by the state in which they practice, and must demonstrate continued competence by continuing education courses each year.