How to choose the best psychologist

sim2335

I have social anxiety, maybe mild depression and maybe mild Asperger’s 

Mild depression mainly because I don’t have a girlfriend/married tried everything to find one, I don’t know how a psychologist  can help me find one though, or any other way I can?, even though that’s most important, for me due to my social anxiety I’m relived I don’t have one.

Lucky through work I have private health cover and can choice any psychologist and use up to £1500 and a extra £1500 from non mental health if I need to a year and maybe more.

How do I know whether to choice a psychologist or psychiatrist?I want to avoid tablets, due to side effects etc.

Is there any residential I can go on a week or 2 where they can help?, 

Finally there’s so many good psychologist, how do I choice the best one for me?

tacpot12

You might be overthinking the problem. There are many good psychologists, but you only need one, and you only need them to be good enough. You need to get on with them, and you need them to be convienient; you shouldn't have to travel a long distance to find a good one. 

You should be able to have an initial meeting with three psychologists to see if you get on with them, then pick the one who seems to understand you and what you want to acheive the best. You could ask about any success stories they have with people who have similar problems. 

A psychologist might help you find a girlfriend indirectly. If you can be more confident when you are interacting with people, this is might allow someone to see your qualities and to take a chance on dating you.  

BrassicWoman

start with someone properly accredited - the BPS register is a place to look folk up.

elsien

As above, anyone at all can call themselves a psychologist, doesn’t mean they know what they are doing. Check qualifications and accreditation. 

With the “maybe mild depression, maybe Asperger’s” is this something you’ve seen your GP about. Have you tried CBT for your social anxiety? 

Either way, there’s not going to be a magic quick fix in a two week residential course for not having a girlfriend. Working on issues tends to take time. They can give you the tools. The test is down to you. 

If you think an autism diagnosis might be helpful, have a read of this.
https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/diagnosis/pre-diagnosis/adults?gclid=EAIaIQobChMImenj44X49AIVibHtCh1ndQ_AEAAYASAAEgIBffD_BwE

sim2335

Thanks all

The one I found I like, was qualified in 1975, is this a advantage due to his experience or disadvantage  as he may not be update with modern and more effective techniques.

tacpot12

If they are a member of a professional body, it is likely that they will have been expected to do some professional development to keep up with developments in their field. You might look to see whether the BPS requires its members to undertake regular professional development.

coffeehound

Psychiatrists deal predominantly in medication, so you would be best to avoid them if you don't want meds.  As others have said, look for real-world recommendations and reviews

Counsellors are another option if you want to pursue things like CBT or other talking therapies

tacpot12

coffeehound said:

Psychiatrists deal predominantly in medication, so you would be best to avoid them if you don't want meds.  As others have said, look for real-world recommendations and reviews

Counsellors are another option if you want to pursue things like CBT or other talking therapies

The OP was asking about psychologists, not psychiatrists. 

HampshireH

tacpot12 said:

coffeehound said:

Psychiatrists deal predominantly in medication, so you would be best to avoid them if you don't want meds.  As others have said, look for real-world recommendations and reviews

Counsellors are another option if you want to pursue things like CBT or other talking therapies

The OP was asking about psychologists, not psychiatrists. 

To be fair OP did say they didn't know which they needed.

From OPs previous posts CBT may not be a bad shout

sim2335

I have insurance through work and choose this therapist as he’s works in private hospital in posh areas, and is a clinical psychologist and workerd in uni admissions and very experienced etc 

I’m on my 6 sessions tommrow, first he seemed really good after assment, he showed me how cbt works and all 5 areas need to work together, I assumed we would work through each area once a week.

I seen 2 others in past which did not work, one I paid for myself was useless.
As she would keep talking to be and telling me about breathing, eveyweek
This was because she thought I had mild autism, and send CBT will not work.

The other one I went to, through NHS he wasn’t even a clinical psychologist just a CBT thrpist, he seemed really good went through everything saftey behvaiours, assertiveness how to practice etc.
The reason it did not work with home is because it was Covid and no events were happing so nowhere to practice.

For example my current thrpist I was talking about assertiveness, he just gave me a list of passive assivertive and aggressive.
Where’s when I went to see a cbt thrpist years ago, he gave me diffent reposnses and how and what to practice, so I do know what to say.

There are positives though, soon as he said if you just keep coming to theses sessions and think you will chnage you got to be kidding yoursef that hit me…and helped.
I’ve started doing small things I would never do like went they’re alone talk to person next to me.
Phone my cousin, ask if he wants food mum made.
Pick up home phone
It’s just hard keeping it up

sim2335

I have insurance through work and choose this therapist as he’s works in private hospital in posh areas, and is a clinical psychologist and workerd in uni admissions and very experienced etc 

I’m on my 6 sessions tommrow, first he seemed really good after assment, he showed me how cbt works and all 5 areas need to work together, I assumed we would work through each area once a week.

I seen 2 others in past which did not work, one I paid for myself was useless.
As she would keep talking to be and telling me about breathing, eveyweek
This was because she thought I had mild autism, and send CBT will not work.

The other one I went to, through NHS he wasn’t even a clinical psychologist just a CBT thrpist, he seemed really good went through everything saftey behvaiours, assertiveness how to practice etc.
The reason it did not work with home is because it was Covid and no events were happing so nowhere to practice.

For example my current thrpist I was talking about assertiveness, he just gave me a list of passive assivertive and aggressive.
Where’s when I went to see a cbt thrpist years ago, he gave me diffent reposnses and how and what to practice, so I do know what to say.

There are positives though, soon as he said if you just keep coming to theses sessions and think you will chnage you got to be kidding yoursef that hit me…and helped.
I’ve started doing small things I would never do like went they’re alone talk to person next to me.
Phone my cousin, ask if he wants food mum made.
Pick up home phone
It’s just hard keeping it up