How not to get “burned” by a psychologist?

We spend a lot of effort choosing specialists to whom we entrust our appearance, physical health, renovation projects, learning, etc. We care a lot about who will do our hair, nails, or root canals, clean our apartments, and design our backyards. But finding a person to whom you can entrust the most intimate things – your fears, anxieties, and desires – is probably even more difficult.

Even though you have a lot of choices, selecting a psychologist is not easy. How can you figure out all these confusing terms and look behind them to determine if this specialist is “for you”?

Let’s try to clarify the most important thing: what you should pay attention to when choosing a therapist.

1. License and education.

It is extremely important. A psychologist should have a proper education and a license – if they practice psychology without a license they may cause a lot of harm.

2. The approach that is used by the psychologist.

It may not be important in all cases because it is the specialist that helps you, not their approach. But if, for example, you do not like art at all (drawing, sculpting, etc.) then art therapy may not be the best option for you. And if long conversations about feelings are not your cup of tea, then gestalt therapy may not suit you, but CBT may be a good fit.

3. Recommendations of people you trust.

If a specialist helped your friend, it does not necessarily mean that they will be just as successful with you, because establishing contact is very personal. But a good recommendation improves the chances that this psychologist is effective and professional.

4. Areas of specialization.

Usually, psychologists specify the areas of specialization in their profile, but you can always ask about it too. If a psychologist works in “all” areas – this may be a red flag. It may mean that they do not have deep knowledge in any area. It is impossible to be good at child psychology, trauma therapy, family therapy, and professional coaching at the same time.

5. The personality of the psychologist

Psychologists work by using their personalities. Of course, it is not a replacement for professional education and experience, but you need to “connect” with the specialist whom you are choosing – the way they talk, the way they look. You must pay attention to your internal reaction to the psychologist as a person. Do you want to trust them? Do you want to share your most intimate things?

6. Articles, blogs, podcasts, webinars, etc.

This is a continuation of the previous point. Before going to a specialist, it would be great to learn what they write about and how they express their thoughts and ideas. Review their professional accounts on social networks, their website, listen to podcasts, or watch webinars. This will help you understand if you can relate to their message.

7. Your feelings after the first meeting.

The first meeting is an introduction where you clarify your request. Notice if you feel comfortable communicating with the psychologist: do you trust them and want to talk to them? Pay attention to how they listen to you, how they react to your words, whether you feel at ease. You cannot build a connection during one session, of course. But you will feel that something is wrong right away.

8. You may not be able to find “your” psychologist from the first try, and this is normal. Do not give up and try again.

This is the list of things you should NOT pay attention to:

○ Personal accounts on social networks. It is better not to look for them and not to read them. This will not give you any important information about the specialist but can harm the process of therapy.

○ Reviews of the clients. They may be present or not. Please remember that psychotherapy is a sensitive topic. While people will gladly recommend their massage therapist or a hairdresser, not everyone is ready to admit that they have been working with a psychotherapist.

The most important thing is to make sure that you like your therapist and want to interact with them. Good luck!