HOW DO I CHOOSE A PSYCHOLOGIST?
People often access psychologists through local clinics and hospitals, on referral from their family physicians, or through the recommendation of friends, family members, religious leaders or teachers. The BC Psychological Association offers a referral service in BC [(604) 730-0522, 1 (800) 730-0522)], and some psychologists choose to belong to this service. You are also able to locate psychologists in telephone directories. The Canadian Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology (CRHSPP) also has a referral list. You can obtain these and other psychology links on our related sites page by clicking here.
It is very important that you have a trusting, positive and constructive relationship with any psychologist you choose to work with. As is the case with any other kind of professional, one practitioner might be a good fit for one person, but not a good fit for someone else. Once you have established the practitioner’s credentials, the best way to determine if he or she is right for you is to rely on your feelings: Does this person appear kind, understanding and non-judgmental? Do you feel listened to? If not, perhaps you need to try someone else who might be a better fit.
WHO DO I SEE? Once you make a decision to seek help, you need to decide who to choose. Many people claim to treat mental health problems. Not all of them are well-trained professionals in the mental health field. Regardless of who you consult, it is important to ask if they are regulated – in other words, do they have a license to practice and are they accountable to a regulatory body?
