What do I look for in a psychologist?

As therapy is a dynamic enterprise that involves two or more people, it is essential to explore the background of the psychologist as well as their
interpersonal demeanor and how you feel about working with a particular
psychologist. First, consider what area you need help with—your children, spouse, work, substance abuse, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, etc. and then look for a psychologist trained in this specialty area. Next, you will want to ascertain the fee structure of the doctor you are considering visiting and whether they accept your insurance. You can call your insurance carrier to see if the psychologist is a participating provider and can speak to the psychologist directly about their fee structure. If a psychologist has expertise in the area you need help with and their fee structure is acceptable to you, you will want to learn more about the psychologist (i.e., their gender, age, educational background) by making an appointment with this doctor. At this time you can explore whether you will feel comfortable working with this psychologist. During this initial meeting you may want to ask the psychologist more about their experience with the area you need help with, their availability to meet with you at times that are convenient for you, their estimate about the length of treatment, information about the course of treatment (i.e., will all sessions be individual, will there be group sessions), how confidentiality issues be handled if a minor is involved, when treatment progress be re-evaluated, how insurance claims be handled, and any other issues you may be thinking about. It takes time to choose the right psychologist, but your efforts will be rewarded when you find the psychologist with the applicable background and expertise and with whom you feel able to communicate comfortably.