Seeking Treatment

Grateful acknowledgement goes to the California Board of Psychology for their permission to use and modify their excellent information for consumers available on their website (http://www.psychboard.ca.gov/).

Be aware that every jurisdiction may have differences in their laws and rules regarding the practice of psychology and licensed professionals. The information contained in this section is general information. If you have a question regarding a licensed psychologist, please check with the state, province or territory where the individual is licensed to obtain specifics about your questions.

Every year many thousands of persons visit professional psychologists, psychological assistants or registered psychologists for help in better understanding themselves and others and dealing with personal problems. If you think you may need to see one of these professionals, this information can help you. It will provide guidance for choosing a psychologist and explain what a psychologist should and should NOT do. It also will tell you what to do if you think your psychologist has broken the law or overstepped professional boundaries

What Does a Psychologist Do?

A psychologist provides counseling, psychotherapy, consultation, behavior modification, biofeedback or hypnosis to individuals, groups, organizations, or businesses for a fee in order to treat or relieve psychological and emotional problems. A psychologist also develops, gives, and interprets tests of mental abilities, aptitudes, neuropsychological functioning, vocational interests, personality characteristics, and motivations.

How Do I Choose a Psychologist?

It's important to take time to select the right psychologist. First, decide what problem or issue you want help with, for example your marriage, your job, your children, your elderly parents, child custody, substance abuse, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, etc. Then look for a psychologist trained to provide services in that area. Ask friends or relatives for recommendations. Also check with your health insurance company for a list of authorized providers. You can also call the national, state, and local psychological associations for help in picking a qualified provider.

Always check the psychologist's license status by making an inquiry to your state or provincial psychology board. Find out if the individual is licensed and if there has been any discipline taken against the license. If there is a record of discipline, you may be able to obtain public information on the matter simply by making a request to the licensing board.

Next, meet with the psychologist to see if the two of you are compatible. You may decide you prefer to work with someone older or younger, of a particular ethnic group or with a male or female psychologist.

Can I Get Help from Someone Other Than a Psychologist?

Yes, you can. The profession of psychology is unique, but there are other fields that overlap, including but not limited to:

Psychiatrists
- Licensed by their local Medical Board.
- Use limited counseling therapy.
- Authorized to prescribe drugs.
Licensed Clinical Social Workers.
- LCSWs typically work in governmental or hospital settings, but may be in private practice.
- They usually can not do psychological testing and evaluations or prescribe drugs.
Licensed Professional Counselors.
- These professionals can provide counseling regarding individual, marriage, family and child issues.
- They can not prescribe drugs and may have limitations in doing some psychological testing.
Marriage, Family, and Child Counselors and Therapists.
- These counselors can provide counseling regarding marriage, family, and child issues.
- They can not prescribe drugs and have strict limitations in doing psychological testing.
Licensed Educational or School Psychologists.
- These professionals work in schools and provide educational counseling services, such as aptitude testing.
- In most jurisdictions, they can not do psychological testing that is not related to educational services, and they can not prescribe drugs.
Priests, ministers, rabbis, or other members of the clergy.
- May provide spiritual guidance.
- May not treat emotional or mental disorders, do psychological testing, or prescribe drugs.

What Are Psychologists NOT Supposed to Do?

It's good to remember that - as happens in other professions - some practitioners bend or break the rules. Unfortunately, by doing so, psychologists can directly or indirectly cause harm to their patients. Here are some things that psychologists, psychological assistants or registered psychologists SHOULD NEVER DO:

Have any type of sexual contact with a patient, including inappropriate touching, kissing, or sexual intercourse. This type of behavior is NEVER appropriate.
Violate a patient's confidentiality.
Provide services for which they have not been trained and educated.
Abuse drugs.
Commit fraud or other crimes.
Pay or accept compensation for referral of patients.
Make false or exaggerated claims about their services or skills.
Act in an unprofessional, unethical, or negligent manner.
Assist someone in the unlicensed practice of psychology.
Focus therapy on their own problems, rather than on those of the patient.
Serve in multiple roles: for example, by having social relationships with patients, lending them money, employing them, etc. This may confuse the patient and often interferes with treatment.

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