There is a large amount of information on the Internet about how to go about selecting a good psychiatrist, a therapist or a good psychologist. And the are lists of practicing psychologist and it could be easy to find one in your locale by searching online.
However, it would first be better to ask around and make a list of available therapists or psychologist in your area. Distance you are willing to drive will be one consideration and this will have to do with how often the visits and if the extra effort and expense of driving 40 or fifty miles as opposed to only one or two. It all depends on your reasons for needing therapy.
Once you have a list of psychiatrist, one online source suggested you call them and leave a message on their answering machine. Explain your reason for needing their service and let them know you are “shopping around”. Then take note of how long it takes them to call back. The online source suggested this could be counted in as how responsible they are”.
I don’t agree with that one hundred percent because the office staff will be the one calling back and relaying messages so I doubt if too much dependence can be place on the wait time limit for them calling back.
But when they do, take the time and be daring enough to ask them questions. As a consumer, the online source reminds, you have the right to know all you need to know about this important event in your life. After you tell them your reasons for needing therapy, you ask about fees. Then about when you could be expected to begin your sessions. Of course you will want to know about the different kinds of license your therapist has.
It would be smart to learn about these before you even make that first phone call. You will want to know the difference between a PhD degree, or a social worker with a master’s, as an example. You will want to know how the psychologist views his work, is he a clinical psychologist, or a counseling psychologist. Will you be seeing them, or do they have sub-groups of counselors. Leave nothing to chance with this first interview.
Seek to learn how about his education. How extensive was it. Did he prepare for people problem work while in school or did he switch from a sports oriented psychological field into clinical psychology since moving to your town. All of these things are important to know.
Once you are satisfied as to their honesty and their integrity, learn about their lifestyle. Match your problems and your reason for needing counseling, or psychotherapy, to theirs. If they have been married multiple times then ask yourself if they will help you save your marriage. It could be they would insist you get rid of them, and start new. Mark this one off your list.
Their religion, their sexual orientation, and how they stand on important moral issues that could make a difference whether you will be comfortable interacting mentally with them. But, how do you get this information? The online source where some of this information is based on, suggest you make appointments with the various therapist on your list.
If they react negatively with your inquires, then understand this will be the way of lots of reactions in your therapy sessions. A good therapist will be glad to help you find the source of help and will not be offended. Do this for all on your list, they advise.
Well. Making appointments with three or four psychologist or psychoanalyst may be fine if you are a rich movie star or some other celebrity with lots of money, but how about people like us who have to scrounge to pay for a few sessions. These appointments to find check out the psychologist may not be something we can afford to pay for, and since you will be taking up their time, you will be expected to pay.
Besides, if you are mentally capable of barging into a psychiatrist or a psychologist who already have all the mental blocks stacked in their favor (at least you in your present state of mind, think so) and demand to know how capable they are of straightening out your mental kinds, do you really need their help?
Possibly signing up for group therapy, on the advice of your regular doctor, of course, be equally effective. Be honest with yourself and your mind may help you in ways you never thought possible. My brand of cognitive thinking is visually seeing myself standing outside of myself and looking in at my problems. It usually works. I started doing that long before I knew what Cognitive thinking was.
Source:
www.guidetopsychology.com/choosing.htm
