In the treatment of disorders as well as in helping people deal with the problems of day-to-day life, psychotherapy can play an important role. Not all psychologists are alike. Various psychologists specialize in different areas of life experience. While one psychologist might be very skilled at dealing with trauma and panic disorder, another might specialize in helping people with interpersonal relationships. For this reason, its important to take care when selecting a psychologist to suit your specific situation.

Practicality is a very important consideration in choosing a psychologist. It is wise to choose a counselor whose office is located near your home or office to make visits easy. Of course you must also be certain that you can afford the psychologist you choose. Before visiting any counselors, check on price, and check to be sure that your insurance coverage (if any) will cover your visits with the counselors you are considering.

Its important that you find a reputable counselor. Check the background of any counselor you are considering. Ask for word of mouth recommendations, and if the therapist has a web site check to see if positive online testimonials are posted.

You may know from the outset whether you wish to speak with a man or woman. If so, this knowledge will narrow your search by approximately 50%! If you have no specific preference, interview both men and women. In the process of interviewing, you may find yourself feeling more comfortable with one gender than the other. If this is the case, you can make your choice accordingly.

When interviewing psychologists, you must ask what age group the therapist prefers to work with and has the most experience with. See a counselor who has a lot of experience dealing with your age group.

You should also find out what kind of problems the counselor has the most experience with. For example, some may have a great deal of experience with cases of childhood trauma while others may have more experience dealing with addictive behaviors. Obviously, these are two very different situations. Seek out a counselor who has a great deal of experience dealing with the situation you present.

No matter what kind of treatment you seek, its important that you have a good rapport with your psychologist. If you are not comfortable with the therapist, your therapy could very well be a waste of time. You must feel comfortable and secure that your therapist accepts what you have to say. If you are not comfortable, or feel judged, your therapy will not work.

Once you have settled on one or two counselors to interview, prepare a list of questions. These question should serve the purpose of determining whether or not you and the counselor share the same or similar values. In your initial interview with a counselor, talk briefly about the situation you will present, and ask the counselor about his or her own background, religious and political views. By finding a counselor who shares or can be accepting of your views and background, you can be more certain of receiving unbiased advice. Additionally, you will surely feel more comfortable if you do not feel judged.

Once you have decided on a counselor to try, set a limit on the number of sessions you will attend before fully committing to that counselor. After 2 to 4 sessions, if you feel youre not being helped or making any headway, you should interview a few more counselors.

By taking the time to consider practical matters and seeking a good match for your needs and your personality, you will surely be able to find the right psychologist for you.

Dr. Sean Sullivan is a San Francisco Therapist and performance San Francisco Psychologist who teaches how to clearly see the details of your inner world by creating your own Mind Map – He is a Bay Area Therapist and creator of The Mind Masters Guided Journey – Find out more about San Francisco Therapy at: Drseansullivan.com

Author: Ombl4dom

This author has published 53 articles so far. More info about the author is coming soon.