Today, there are many different approaches and many therapists and experts helping people with their problems. Therefore, for those who have never consulted a psychologist or psychiatrist, it may be difficult to choose the right expert. People who have decided to seek professional help but have no one to ask for recommendations often search for specialists on the internet. When professional help cannot be obtained through recommendations, there are several important factors to consider when choosing the "right" therapist.
What Should Be Considered When Choosing a Psychologist / Psychotherapist?
The therapist's education level should be the first step in finding an expert. A bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in psychology (clinical psychology, developmental psychology, applied psychology, etc.) are important. While studying for a master's degree, the choice of therapist will depend on whether the client is a child, adolescent, or adult and the reason the client is seeking therapy. Therefore, the master's degree should be in one of the branches of psychology.
Just because a therapist appears on the first page of Google does not mean they are good. This only indicates that they know how to use the internet well. Sometimes, counselors may not even have a diploma. Today, many short-term personal development courses are offered. Unfortunately, people trained in these networks may mistakenly consider themselves therapists. This is why a diploma should always be the first thing to ask about.
If you have a therapist you plan to visit, a more detailed search will give you more information on whether you are choosing the "right" psychologist. From a specialist psychologist website, you can obtain more comprehensive information on their education, institutions, articles, area of expertise, etc.
The final step is the first meeting. Those who have previously received expert help may come with biases if their past experiences were negative. They may fear that the therapist cannot help them because of various issues that caused them to stop attending sessions previously. However, it should be remembered that every therapist's approach, field of knowledge, and experience are different.
Whether the therapist values ethical principles, such as not sharing any information about the client with a third party without the client's consent, is a matter of confidentiality. If a person goes to a good expert, they will understand. Choosing the right psychotherapist is important because working with a therapist in this field will have a positive impact on the person and their close circle, improving their quality of life.
Which Therapist is Right for You?
As a rule, people seeking psychological help often try to meet these needs by asking familiar psychologists due to the lack of online resources. This has been going on for a long time. This leads to finding therapists who are not suitable for their needs and negatively affects the continuation of treatment.
The biggest problem in the psychology world in our country is the lack of a professional law. The absence of this law opens the way for many unqualified people to present themselves as therapists without sufficient education and a diploma. There are several key questions you should ask.
1. What Degree Did They Graduate From?
The first requirement for a person to hold the title of psychologist is to obtain a 4-year degree in psychology from universities. Please do not forget that after completing a bachelor's degree in psychology, the psychologist should specialize in a specific field. Currently, there are many people on the internet with many followers but without qualifications in this field. Make sure to research from which faculty they graduated and which area they specialize in. Psychology and psychological counseling (PDR) are different departments. At this stage, you should ensure that the university the participant attended has a psychology faculty.
2. Trainings and Certifications
The second topic to address is the therapist's preparation for treatment. (For example, if you want to enter couple therapy about problems in your relationship, the psychologist should have two certifications that show they completed the therapy course.) Psychological tests should be conducted in an environment where the practitioner holds certification in that area.
3. Mutual Trust
The fact that the therapeutic environment is comfortable, quiet, and makes you feel safe is a crucial factor. Since therapy is a two-way journey, the compatibility between the therapist and the client is very important. Finding a psychologist you can trust and who will help you discover yourself will aid the therapy process.
