How do you find a good psychologist?

I know it must seem trite to ask, and probably ridiculous. The answer is simple. "Go find one!" "Try psychology today." But that's not quite what I mean.

The only psychologists I've ever been to were one I had originally as a child, and the psychologist he recommended. Neither are able or willing to help my with my problems, so I came to the simple solution to stop therapy. The thing is, I would like therapy and I think it would help me. A lot. Furthermore, I really think it would help me to try and get my problems properly diagnosed (something my last therapist was strongly against.)

I've used psychology today. I've sent an email to one that looked promising and got a response of "I'm not accepting any new patients now. Good luck!", and called another -- despite me disliking phone calls -- and the promised return call within 24 hours never happened.

I feel like I am trying to get a job instead of a new psychologist. It's tiresome. I feel it will only get worse if I did find one willing to give a try, as they would most likely not fit and cause me to have to break ties and continue searching and start the cycle all over again.

In short, it is tedious, frustrating, and disheartening to have to do this. You can call me weak-willed if you like, but I am content with myself. I'm just not truly happy.

I know, I know... I've only tried two so far. But there are not an unlimited amount of viable psychologists (accept insurance and are willing to help me with the type of problems I have, AND test me) and the list gets shorter with each one that isn't helpful.

I feel like I'm doing something wrong, like there's some trick to do this right. If there is, please help me. If there isn't and you can still help me in some way, I'd still appreciate it. I don't know what to do, here.

I'm kind of in the same boat as you right now. I refuse to see therapists anymore because they can't tell me anything I don't already know myself, and psychiatrists are lame people that don't listen to you and just want to medicate you. So I've decided the only professional I am willing to see is a psychologist.

I have also tried psychology today, but I have not had luck.

I know this is a website for dissociative issues, but isst-d.org has a "find a therapist" section that lists very high quality professionals. Perhaps you could take a look at that.

Chondro wrote:I'm kind of in the same boat as you right now. I refuse to see therapists anymore because they can't tell me anything I don't already know myself, and psychiatrists are lame people that don't listen to you and just want to medicate you. So I've decided the only professional I am willing to see is a psychologist.

I have also tried psychology today, but I have not had luck.

I know this is a website for dissociative issues, but isst-d.org has a "find a therapist" section that lists very high quality professionals. Perhaps you could take a look at that.

Thank you. It's worth a shot, for sure.

No problem. I'm still looking, lmao. I just search "Psychologist in ____" or "Psychologist search in ____"

You could also get recommendations. I participated in a study once and at the end she recommended this lady to me. She was too far away though.

You could read some books or file or sites about the different school of toughts in psychology and then search one therapist following the one you prefer.
In my Country there is a site with photos of therapists and a little curriculum with their sectors and current, for sure you have also.

Its a good question, I had also for a lot of time, I would find one, the right one, in some publications, some video of conference in youtube... I didnt know where to start.

Luckily and rightly in psychoanalysis there is the rule of the first meet free but no all follow more this provision due to the fact that there is not a doctor and a patient but two people in analysis that must match each one.
For that you can meet the one that show all his kndness to be able to take you and your money and the able one. I trust more who can shut up. But people want more a friend to talk and that understand him, instead the real psyochoanalist pull the strings slightly and....starves.

Quick thought to add to this is also be aware what type of mental healthcare professional you need. As I learned the hard way, there are substantial differences in skills and experiences between a psychiatrist (doctor with specialty in mental disorders), psychologist (someone with a PhD in psychology, but is more often a scientist NOT an experienced therapist), and then a whole list of "therapist" people types. I've been to counselors with six month certifications in "counseling" who called themselves therapists. I've been to what turned out to be social workers who by law can be therapists. And i've been to therapists with degrees IN psychology.

Took me twenty-five plus years to find ONE that did not mock my flashbacks, laugh at my nightmares, call me names, make fun of me, and many many many times one off sessions that ended in "there is nothing wrong with you, aren't you ashamed of being a cancer on society? Go away, no one will ever want to be around someone like you."

So go into this with thick skin and if the person does not feel "right" MOVE ON. Trust is the ONLY deciding factor in if they can help you or not. They can be GOD of PSYCHOLOGY... and if they only make you feel diseased, ashamed, humiliated, whatever negative feelings... You will never open up to them in any significant fashion. Twenty-five plus years, and after two years with current therapist it wasn't until late last year THAT trust started. He worked his ASS OFF to earn it too after some of the professional abuse I've experienced.

Bit funny, but it was when the others started to talk more with him during our sessions than I got to talk... That I decided to stick with him. At one point I was in the financial position of choosing therapy or food... and because of the others... I choose to split the difference.