Why seeing a psychologist is the best choice to make

Article Written By: SelfEssential

These days there are countless people offering services to improve people's lives, but unfortunately it can be difficult to know whether the person is qualified and able to meet your needs. If you are thinking of going to see someone for therapy, it is very important to make sure that the person you see has the right level of training for your issue, is registered as a health professional, has experience in working with issues such as the one you are facing, and that you feel at ease with.

Many of the helping professions in Australia – such as counsellors, psychotherapists, spiritual healers, or life coaches – do not require legal registration or accreditation in order to practice. This means that people with very minimal (if any) formal training can call themselves one of these titles, and start to trade, with no legal consequence.

Psychology, however, is a regulated industry. You cannot call yourself a psychologist or a clinical psychologist without a minimum standard of university training and supervised experience in the profession. In order to practice as a psychologist in Australia, by law you must be registered by the Psychology Board of Australia.

If you decide to see a psychologist, it is useful to understand the differences in titles used. They have four years of university level training plus two years of supervised experience. Some psychologists may have also undertaken post graduate training. Clinical psychologists are also registered as psychologists by the Psychology Board of Australia, and they are endorsed to work as clinical psychologists.

Clinical Psychologists have four years university training and have undertaken additional post graduate training at Masters or Doctorate level. This post graduate training is usually focussed on evidence based clinical assessment and treatment approaches. In general, clinical psychologists are considered to have greater training in clinical treatment than psychologists.

However, it is important to find out what type of training and experience he has, as some psychologists may be very experienced and have post graduate training in an area other than clinical psychology. Additionally, some clinical psychologists may have undertaken the post graduate training but be relatively new to practice.

An advantage of seeing a psychologist or clinical psychologist is that a Medicare rebate is available for up to twelve sessions per calendar year. This rebate makes it very affordable to obtain evidence based, effective treatment. For more information on how the Medicare rebate works, visit the Australian Psychology Society's website.

Psychologists and clinical psychologists have earned their expertise in mental health through a long process. Psychology is a regulated industry. Psychologists and clinical psychologists adhere to an ethical code of conduct, and take their positions very seriously.

This is unlike many unregulated health professionals, who may be well meaning but lack the skills and knowledge to work effectively with a range of issues. If you see a psychologist or clinical psychologist you can feel assured you have made the right choice.

About the Author

Louise Adams and Dr Julie Malone are Sydney psychologists from Self Essentials in Balmain. Find them at www.self.net.au

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