How to Choose a Psychologist: What to Look for in a Good One

How do you choose a psychologist? What to look for in training, specialism, ethical principles and therapeutic fit when finding the right psychologist for you.

Deciding to get support often comes at the end of a long inner debate. After months, even years, of saying "One day I'll go", when you are finally ready to take the step, a new question appears: how do you choose a psychologist? Among hundreds of names online, similar-looking profile texts and different titles, finding the right person can be confusing. In this article we calmly and clearly cover what you should look out for when choosing a psychologist, which questions it helps to ask, and how you can assess fit after the first sessions.

Why Is the Question of How to Choose a Psychologist So Important?

Therapy is a process in which you meet a person regularly and share your most private thoughts, feelings and experiences. For this reason, who you work with matters as much as the process itself. Studies in the field of psychotherapy have long shown that the relationship between client and therapist, in other words the therapeutic alliance, is one of the determining factors in benefiting from therapy. However effective the method used, it is hard to open up in an environment where you do not feel safe.

On the other hand, in Turkey the word "psychologist" can be used in a broad sense. People with an undergraduate degree in psychology, specialists with a master's in clinical psychology, psychological counsellors and people who use the title "therapist" after various short courses can all appear in the same search results. This picture makes an informed choice even more necessary.

Say you have been struggling with intense anxiety for a long time and you went to someone you often see on social media. After a few sessions you felt misunderstood and decided that therapy "wasn't for you". Yet the problem may not have been therapy itself, but perhaps that the choice was not based on enough information. A good start greatly reduces this kind of disappointment.

How to Choose a Psychologist: What to Look For

When wondering how to choose a psychologist, it helps to know that a good choice does not rest on a single criterion. Considering the headings below together gives you a healthier picture.

Educational Background and Title

The first thing to look at is the person's basic training. After a psychology degree, a master's in clinical psychology, especially in programmes that include a thesis and supervised practice, provides an important foundation for practising psychotherapy. Do not hesitate to ask through what training the title of clinical psychologist was obtained. A reliable specialist openly shares the institution they graduated from and the training they have received.

Therapy Approach and Additional Training

Besides basic training, which psychotherapy approach the specialist has trained in is also important. Approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, schema therapy, play therapy and couple therapy each require separate, long-term training. For example, a CBT training that meets international standards, spans years and includes supervision does not provide the same competence as an introductory seminar of a few days. If you are curious about this approach, you can take a look at our article What Is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).

Age Groups and Areas They Work With

Not every specialist works on every subject or with every age group. Working with children requires knowledge of play and development; working with adolescents calls for a completely different communication skill; working with couples requires mastery of relationship dynamics. Is the issue you want help with, for example panic attacks, relationship problems or your child's adjustment to school, among the areas the specialist regularly works in? Asking this is entirely reasonable.

Supervision and Professional Development

Psychotherapy is a field where learning never ends. Specialists who receive regular supervision, are open to case consultation and continue their training can manage the difficulties they encounter more healthily. This also shows that the specialist is aware of their own limits.

Psychologist, Psychiatrist, Psychological Counsellor: Which Suits You?

Before answering the question of how to choose a psychologist, it can help to clarify the type of support you need. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor; they diagnose and, when they consider it necessary, plan drug treatment. A clinical psychologist carries out psychological assessment and conducts psychotherapy; they do not prescribe medication. Psychological counsellors work mostly in educational settings and on developmental matters.

In some cases carrying out the two forms of support together is the most appropriate path. For example, in a depressive period that seriously impairs daily functioning, both an assessment by a psychiatrist and psychotherapy may be recommended together. We covered this subject in detail in our article on the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist.

What Questions Should Be Asked in the First Session?

The first session is a meeting in which not only does the specialist get to know you, but you get to know the specialist. Asking the following questions both reduces uncertainty about the process and makes it easier for you to decide:

• Have you worked on this subject before, and which approach are you thinking of using?
• How often and for how long are sessions held?
• Roughly how does the process go, and how will we assess progress together?
• How is confidentiality protected, and in what situations are there limits to confidentiality?
• What happens if I cannot attend a session?
• If necessary, would you refer me to another specialist or to a psychiatrist?

As well as the answers to these questions, the way the answers are given matters. A specialist who answers your questions patiently, openly and understandably will show similar transparency later in the process.

A good therapist is not the one who tells you they know everything; it is the one who listens to you, can admit what they do not know, and builds the process together with you.

Warning Signs to Look Out For

Another side of the question of how to choose a psychologist is knowing what not to choose. As well as making the right choice, it matters to recognise the signs you should stay away from. The following situations may indicate that you should think twice:

• Promises of guaranteed results: Statements such as "It will go away completely in three sessions" or "guaranteed solution" are contrary to the nature of psychotherapy. Every person and every process is different.
• Vague information about training: Be cautious if it is not stated clearly from which institution and through what training the title was obtained.
• Boundary violations: A therapist offering friendship outside sessions, talking at length about their own private problems, or trying to gain personal benefit from you is unethical.
• A judgemental attitude: If you feel belittled or blamed because of your values, lifestyle or feelings, this is an important sign.
• Lack of care over confidentiality: Speaking about other clients in a way that makes them recognisable suggests that your information may not be safe either.
• Presenting a single method as the solution to everything: Effective specialists adapt their approach to the client's needs.

In Turkey, with the influence of social media, talk such as "quick recovery" or "transformation in a single session" circulates often. These messages can be especially attractive to people going through a hard time. But realistic expectations are the foundation of benefiting from therapy in a healthy way.

Preparations You Can Make Yourself

Asking yourself a few questions before starting your search for a specialist makes the choice easier. These steps help you both find the right person and get more out of the first session.

Clarify Your Need

Try writing briefly why you want to seek therapy. Concrete sentences such as "I'm tense all the time, I can't sleep", "my spouse and I keep arguing about the same things" or "my child's behaviour changed after the change of school" show which field of specialist you need.

Review Your Practical Circumstances

In big cities, traffic and the pace of work can make it hard to attend regular sessions. In this case an online session option can be an important advantage for continuity. If you cannot find a specialist in the field you are looking for in your city, or if you live abroad, you can also consider specialists who work online. Thinking in advance about practical matters such as session times, transport and budget reduces the chance of the process being abandoned halfway.

Take Your Preferences Seriously

Some people feel more comfortable with a specialist of a particular gender, age group or similar cultural experience. Although these preferences may seem unimportant, they are valuable to the extent that they make it easier to open up. There is nothing wrong with caring about the conditions in which you will feel comfortable.

For many people in Turkey, seeing a psychologist can still be a decision hidden from those around them. The worry "What will my family say, what if they hear about it at work?" sometimes affects the choice of specialist too; a person may prefer a faraway place that acquaintances do not go to, or online sessions only. These preferences are entirely understandable. What matters is that the worry about confidentiality does not steer you to an option whose training and experience are unclear. Confidentiality sits at the heart of a psychologist's ethical responsibilities; you can comfortably ask your questions on this subject in the first session.

Weigh Recommendations in a Balanced Way

A specialist a relative was happy with may suit you too, but not always. See recommendations as a starting point; make your decision according to the specialist's training, field of work and your own experience in the first session. Also remember that going to the same specialist as a close family member can create difficulties of confidentiality and impartiality.

How Do You Tell Whether There Is Therapeutic Fit, and When Should You Consider a Change?

Everything does not need to feel perfect in the first session or two. A little reserve is natural in a new relationship. Still, after a few sessions you can ask yourself these questions: Do I feel heard? Is an environment forming in which I can talk about the things I am ashamed of? Is there something left for me to think about after sessions? Do we share an understanding of our goals?

If you can answer most of these questions positively, then even in moments when you are struggling, the process may be going in the right direction. In therapy it is inevitable to touch on uncomfortable subjects from time to time and to face difficult feelings. A feeling of discomfort does not always mean a poor fit; sometimes it is exactly where change begins.

However, if after a long time you still feel misunderstood or judged, we recommend talking to your therapist about it first. An experienced specialist listens to this feedback without becoming defensive, reviews their approach if needed or refers you to a more suitable colleague. Changing therapist is not a failure; it is using your right to look for the support that will do you good.

When Should You Seek Professional Support?

You do not have to wait to be "bad enough" to get psychological support. Still, it is especially important to see a specialist in the following situations:

• If feelings such as sadness, anxiety or anger have continued intensely for several weeks and are making daily life difficult,
• If there are marked changes in your sleep, appetite, or work or school performance,
• If the same problems keep recurring in your relationships and you cannot find a way out,
• If you are having difficulty recovering after a challenging life event such as a loss, a break-up, migration or an earthquake,
• If you have noticed persistent changes in your child's or adolescent's behaviour that worry you.

If you have thoughts of harming yourself or ending your life, this does not call for waiting. In an emergency, without wasting time, call 112 (emergency services) or go to the nearest emergency department. An assessment by a psychiatrist is also of great importance during this period.

How Is the Selection Process Approached in Therapy?

The first session is generally an introduction and assessment session. In this session the specialist tries to understand your reason for seeking help, your life history, your strengths and the areas you are struggling with. You also learn how therapy will work, which approach is recommended and why. The assessment may be spread over several sessions.

Then goals are set together. In the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy approach, for example, goals are defined in concrete and measurable terms, and how far you are approaching these goals is reviewed regularly through the process. When working with children, first sessions are mostly held with parents, and then a relationship is built through play and drawing, which are the child's own language. In work with couples, creating a neutral ground where both sides feel safe is the priority.

In a well-functioning therapy process, the client is not a passive recipient but an active partner. Your therapist guides you, but does not make decisions in your place; they make room for you to find your own solutions. If you are curious about how individual work is carried out, you can get information from our individual therapy page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to continue after the first session?

No. The first session is an opportunity for introduction and assessment. If you did not feel comfortable after the session, you always have the right not to continue or to see another specialist.

How can I tell whether a psychologist is competent?

You can ask about their educational background, their master's in clinical psychology and their training specific to therapy approaches. An attitude that is transparent, aware of its limits, refers on when needed and does not promise guaranteed results is an important sign of trustworthiness.

What should I look for differently when choosing an online psychologist?

All the criteria for face-to-face sessions also apply to online ones. In addition, it is important that the session takes place on a secure platform, that what to do in case of connection problems is discussed in advance, and that you find a private space where you can talk comfortably during the session.

How should I tell my therapist if I want to change?

It is enough to express your feelings in clear and calm language. An experienced specialist will receive this decision with understanding and, if you wish, can suggest other colleagues who may suit you; remember that when you find the right person, the support can do you good.

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• #therapeutic relationship

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Eda Erkan Alapala

Klinik Psikolog. İstanbul Kent Üniversitesi Klinik Psikoloji Tezli Yüksek Lisans mezunu; bilişsel davranışçı terapi, çocuk merkezli oyun terapisi ve çocuk-ergen psikoterapisi alanlarında eğitimlerini tamamlamıştır.

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