How to Choose a Psychologist
Each of us will face certain difficulties or stressors at some point in our lives. We may struggle to cope with overwhelming feelings or problems that seem beyond our control. During such times, a trained, licensed psychologist could be a guiding hand in helping us better manage our thoughts and feelings. It would then be crucial to find a psychologist you feel comfortable with to confide about personal woes or uncomfortable topics you may not typically share with others.
Do I need to see a psychologist?
Can you even go for therapy without having a mental disorder? The answer is yes, definitely. These questions are common and perfectly normal (if only we received a penny each time someone asked us this). Therapy can be beneficial even for those without diagnoses. You could learn different perspectives, process critical life events, identify explanations for behaviour, alter unhealthy or ineffective habits or patterns, and so on.
But how do you know when you should go for therapy? The American Psychological Association (APA) suggests considering therapy when an event or situation causes distress and interferes with some aspect of your life. For example, when an event leaves you feeling embarrassed or wanting to avoid others. Or perhaps it has negatively affected your concentration in school or at work, and your quality of life has been reduced. If this occurs often and for an extended period of time, it may be time to consider therapy.
Will seeing a psychologist help me?
Anxiety, resistance and doubts are common, especially with therapy being a novel concept for many. However, therapy has been shown to be beneficial for mental health and wellbeing. Some of its benefits include improved relationships and communication skills, learning healthy coping strategies to manage distress, cultivating healthy thought patterns and greater awareness of unhelpful thoughts, as well as gaining greater insights about your life. Remember that prevention is better than cure. Don’t wait until life gets too overwhelming to ask for help! Seeking help early from a trained professional, such as a psychologist, could lead you to a healthier and more fulfilled life sooner.
Okay, so maybe now you are kind of convinced you want to start seeing a therapist. How do you pick? What can you look out for with just their biography or picture? How do you know if the psychologist will be a good fit for you? How do you even know if they are qualified?
Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with some handy tips to aid your quest in finding the “right” psychologist:
1. Credentials
A qualified clinical or counselling psychologist in Singapore would have attained an accredited postgraduate qualification, i.e., a Master’s Degree majoring in a specialisation of psychology or a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. As part of professional training, supervised clinical placements are completed in various hospital or organised health settings. Rest assured that psychologists are required to gain practicum experience, training and supervision before practicing independently. Additionally, psychologists should be licensed by the state or country they practice in. For instance, the organisation overseeing registered psychologists in Singapore is known as the Singapore Register of Psychologists (SRP).
Moreover, as new ideas and therapeutic approaches emerge over the years, psychologists must stay abreast by regularly attending seminars, receiving clinical supervision, reviewing evidence-based research findings as well as consulting and sharing knowledge with colleagues.
2. Areas of Experience & Development
Psychological sub-specialisations should also be looked at when evaluating a psychologist. You would usually find this information in their biography. Take time to read through a psychologist’s bio to learn about their past experiences working with clients of varying mental health concerns. Doing so provides glimpses of their therapeutic approach, types of therapy they are trained in, and the mental disorders they have experience with.
For example, if you are bringing your child to see a psychologist, you may wish to look for one who has extensive experience working with children or who specialises in children’s mental or developmental disorders. Ideally, it would be best to look for a psychologist that can provide the type of therapy that is the most beneficial for your specific concerns.
3. The Therapeutic Alliance
Also known as the 'therapeutic relationship’, the therapeutic alliance describes the collaborative relationship between the individual and therapist. There are three essential elements:
Bond between the client and the therapist
Agreement on therapeutic goals
Collaboration on tasks in management plan
Many studies highlighted that this therapeutic relationship is vital for good management outcomes. Yet, establishing a good therapeutic relationship isn’t as easy as it sounds. A willingness to work and cooperate collaboratively is a key factor in developing the relationship. A psychologist’s ability to listen attentively and communicate empathetically is also crucial in building trust. Just like any other relationship, trust can be easily affected. This is why psychologists are very careful in preventing any potential breaches in trust. It then comes as no surprise that the ‘right’ psychologist for you should be capable of working with you, not for you or anyone else.
4. Demographic factors
Certain demographic characteristics may be important to you when it comes to feeling safe with a psychologist. Some common examples are age and gender. This may be due in part to past experiences with other therapists, or from triggering or traumatic experiences. At the end of the day, the best management outcomes come from being able to openly discuss personal matters, perspectives and beliefs with your psychologist. A demographic preference is understandable and common.
What if my psychologist isn't a good match?
While changing psychologists regularly is not beneficial to the therapeutic process, you can and should consider changing psychologists if your psychologist does not establish a comfortable rapport with you after several sessions.
It is generally helpful to talk openly with your psychologist about the lack of connection, or to raise any issue that may be hindering the therapeutic relationship. Don’t worry; psychologists do not find this directness to be offensive or disrespectful.
The aim of therapy is to understand the issues that bother you. This can only be achieved through a relationship of safety and trust. Our psychologists will listen to your feedback and address the issues that arise during the management plan. This can include issues in the therapeutic relationship. Although it is unlikely that a psychologist will be a good fit for every individual, remember that relationships do take time to grow and interpersonal challenges appear from time to time. Alternatively, your psychologist can also refer you to someone who is suited to your needs if you have made the decision to switch psychologists.
We cannot guarantee that the right psychologist is right round the corner, but keeping the tips above in mind would at least help you in finding a qualified psychologist. We hope that you feel less daunted in your journey, and if you want to check out our own psychologists, feel free to click here.