Have you been feeling overwhelmed lately and feel it’s time to start talking to someone about it.
Finding the right therapist is so important, and rarely do people settle on the first therapist they see. It’s completely normal to shop around for a therapist that you feel comfortable opening up to. However, there is so much information out there, how do you find the right one?
Should I see a counsellor, psychotherapist, psychologist or psychiatrist?
This article sums it up pretty well here.
However, in a nutshell, psychiatrists are medically trained doctors and most focus on diagnosing and maintaining medication of conditions.You will usually need to see a GP first for a referral. Psychologists are regulated under AHPRA, and have around 6 years of university training in delivering evidence-backed talk therapy. As such, there are Medicare rebates available when seeing a psychologist. Psychotherapists typically have 3-4 years of university training and also deliver talk therapy to clients. However, this profession is unregulated n Australia. Finally, counsellors can vary in their training from short courses to post-graduate and undergraduate degrees, and they also provide talk therapy.When selecting a psychotherapist or counsellor, please ensure they are registered with either PACFA or the ACA.
How do I find a therapist?
There are several website you can use to search for the therapist that you think will be the best fit for your own personal circumstances.
Psychologists:
o AHPRA
o Australian Psychological Society
Counsellors and Psychotherapists:
o PACFA
o ACA
Psychologists,Counsellors and Psychotherapists:
o Looking for Relationship Counselling?
Otherwise your GP will be able to provide you with some suggestions, as well as word of mouth.
