Finding a Psychologist

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.

It is important to take time to select the right psychologist. First, decide with which area you want help -- your children, spouse, elderly parents, child custody, substance abuse, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, etc. Then look for a psychologist trained 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.

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 psychology 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.

Some ways of finding a psychologist are:

Ask someone you know who has been in therapy, feels good about the experience, and has changed in ways you consider positive.
Call your family doctor, attorney, minister, school or local crisis intervention service (in the telephone book yellow pages). These persons can refer you to psychologists experienced in dealing with your particular situation.
Call the professional associations and ask for some referrals to psychologists who specialize in your specific area of need.

After getting several names, contact the appropriate licensing board and professional association and ask if the psychologists or counselors are licensed and if any disciplinary actions have been filed against them. Also check your county court to see if there is a record of any malpractice lawsuits filed against them.

Self-Help Support Groups

There is an informal network of self-help support groups throughout North America. While there might not be a group specifically about your situation, there are many groups that deal generally with parenting and behavior problems in children; addictions; loss and grief; divorce; cancer and other illnesses; and sexual abuse survival. To find out if there are any in your area, call your local crisis intervention service (in the telephone book yellow pages), local mental health center, school, minister or check the internet for national support groups that might indicate whether there are groups in your area. Be aware that many self-help support groups are often facilitated by persons with varying levels of training and experience, are intended for support by other individuals in the group experiencing similar problems and should not be seen as a substitute for psychological treatment.

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