There are countless reasons to turn to a professional for support. Whether you’re dealing with issues like stress and burnout, problems at home or at work, or struggles with relationships, it can help to navigate life’s ups and downs with an Edmonton psychologist by your side.
But once you decide you’d like to go to therapy, then it’s time to do the work of figuring out how to find the best counsellor for you.
If you’re looking for an Edmonton psychologist, the first step is to find out what it is that a psychologist can – and can’t – do.
Thanks to their years of training, psychologists can diagnose and treat a range of mental health issues: anxiety, depression, ADHD and OCD, to name a few. Once they complete their education, they can register as a psychologist, which entitles them to use the phrase “Registered Psychologist” or “R. Psych” after their name.
Despite these years of training, psychologists are not medical doctors, like psychiatrists. For that reason, they cannot prescribe medication. Often psychologists and psychiatrists work in partnership, if the patient has a clinical issue that requires medication (such as schizophrenia).
Below, we’ll discuss the two different kinds of psychologists you may encounter: a counselling psychologist and a clinical psychologist.
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ToggleCounselling Edmonton Psychologist
Patients who have issues such as mild depression and/or anxiety, or non-clinical concerns such as anger issues, sleep disorders, problems with self-esteem, communication or relationships, might benefit from a counselling psychologist. These expert professionals may also be useful for parents seeking help with developmental issues, ADHD or behavioral challenges; or for couples trying to improve their communication and relationships dynamics.
Clinical Psychologists
If a patient is experiencing a more serious mental health issue – conditions such as clinical anxiety, major depressive disorder, social phobias, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, autism, schizophrenia, dissociative disorder, panic disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – a clinical psychologist will have the necessary additional experience to provide support.
A Psychologist’s Education
A psychologist must complete several degrees, including a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree, which can either be in the arts or in the sciences. However, a clinical psychologist has to undertake studies specifically in mental health training (instead of other branches of psychology, such as organizational psychology). In addition, many psychologists choose to complete a Ph.D. (research-based) or a Psy.D. (clinical work based).
After they complete a Master’s (or are accepted into a Ph.D.), psychologists apply to become a provisional psychologist through the College of Alberta Psychologists. Then, they go through a practical phase of training that includes a 1600 hour internship, supervised in a hospital, clinic, school or private practice. Many times psychologists-in-training will have their sessions recorded (with patient consent) so that a senior psychologist can review and critique their performance. To reach the required number of hours, psychologists often intern in multiple settings, giving them a broad range of experience with diverse populations (the elderly, students, inmates, children, at-risk groups etc.).
Psychologists can decide whether to be a generalist or a specialist, concentrating on one or two specific groups, based on age or other factors. Some psychologists specialize in relationships, working with veterans, individuals struggling with addiction, domestic violence, etc.
Questions to Ask When Searching for a Therapist
- What kind of therapy do I need? To best answer this question, ask yourself what is the main issue you are trying to address. Is it clinical or non-clinical? Individual or couple? For example, if you are searching for a PTSD psychologist (Edmonton), ask if any prospective counsellor is trained in related treatments, such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). Or if you are hoping to improve a romantic relationship, find out if they have experience working with couples
- What is my budget? If you get a doctor’s referral, mental health services should be covered by your Medical Services Plan (MSP). There are other ways to access affordable therapy, even without a referral. For instance, low income individuals may qualify for free, low cost or sliding scale therapy, so be sure to ask any potential providers what their payment policy is.
- What level of education and training do their therapists have? In addition to registered psychologists, you may find services offered by counselling therapists, psychotherapists, mental health therapists, marriage and family therapists and more. Regardless of level of education, you want to make sure to ask what kind of continuing professional development the therapists are offered at a prospective practice. That way, you ensure that the professional with whom you work is up to date on the latest developments in the field. A healthy therapeutic relationship is based on trust, so before you commit to someone, make sure you know what you’re getting – and if that’s right for you.
If you want to find a psychologist (Edmonton), these questions will help you get started:
- What treatment methods do they use? Will you be lounging on a couch talking about childhood or following a structured protocol? Focusing on changing your behavior or addressing your unconscious beliefs? Think about your preferences, and let them guide your decision.
- How long do patients stay in treatment, on average? Is there an expected length of time you will be expected to be in sessions, or is the timeframe open-ended?
- How does their practice guarantee you will get results? How will you know if the therapy is working? What benchmarks do they use to determine success?
What Does Treatment Look Like?
If you get started with a therapist and don’t feel a connection after a few sessions (or, if you see any deal breakers starting from session one), you should not hesitate to find a new one. See if the practice you attend can provide you a better match – or, if not, consider looking elsewhere. Therapy is a great tool, when it’s done right. It make take more than one try, but it will be worth it in the end.