How to Choose the Right Psychologist for You
The right psychologist is someone who is properly registered, has experience with what you're dealing with, uses evidence-based approaches, and, just as importantly, is someone you feel comfortable talking to. Research consistently finds that the quality of the relationship between client and therapist is one of the strongest predictors of how well therapy works. It's worth checking credentials, thinking about practical fit, and asking a few questions before or during your first session.
1. Check registration
In Australia, "psychologist" is a protected title. Anyone using it must be registered with the Psychology Board of Australia through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra). You can check any practitioner's registration on the public register at ahpra.gov.au. The register shows:
whether they hold general registration (a fully registered psychologist) or provisional registration (in the final stage of supervised training)
any area of practice endorsement, such as clinical psychology
any conditions on their registration
Counsellors aren't regulated by Ahpra, although many belong to professional bodies such as the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) or the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA). For a full explanation of the differences, see Clinical Psychologist vs Psychologist vs Counsellor.
2. Look for relevant experience
Psychologists are trained to work with many different problems, but most develop particular interests. If you're dealing with something specific, such as perinatal mental health, ADHD, trauma, couples issues or OCD, look for someone who lists it as an area of focus. Practice websites and team bios are a good place to start.
3. Consider their approach
Most psychologists draw on several evidence-based approaches, such as CBT, ACT, DBT, schema therapy or psychodynamic therapy. You don't need to be an expert, but it helps to know whether you prefer:
structured and practical work with strategies and homework, or
exploratory work focused on understanding deeper patterns, or
a blend of both
Our guide to therapy approaches explains the main options.
4. Think about fit
Fit is personal. Things that matter to different people include:
Personality and style: warm and gentle, direct and challenging, or somewhere in between; whether humour is welcome
Gender, age or cultural background: some people feel more comfortable with a therapist who shares aspects of their identity or experience
Values: for example, a neurodiversity-affirming or LGBTQIA+ affirming approach
Life experience: some people value a therapist who has personal understanding of parenthood, ADHD or other experiences, while others prefer not to know much about their therapist at all
Reading bios and looking for a sense of the person behind the credentials can help.
5. Consider the practical side
Cost: What are the fees, and what's the out-of-pocket cost after any Medicare or private health rebate? See Medicare Mental Health Care Plans Explained.
Referral: Do you need a GP referral? For Medicare rebates with a registered psychologist, yes. For provisional psychologists and counsellors, usually not.
Location and format: in person, telehealth, or other options such as Walk and Talk therapy.
Availability: session times that suit your schedule, and how long the waitlist is.
Booking and cancellation policies.
Questions to ask
You're entitled to ask questions before committing, either when you enquire or in your first session:
What experience do you have with issues like mine?
What approaches do you use, and why?
What might therapy look like for me: how often, and roughly how long?
How will we know if therapy is working?
What are your fees, rebates and cancellation policy?
What are the limits of confidentiality?
Do you work with my GP or other health professionals?
A good psychologist will welcome these questions.
How to tell if it's a good fit
After two or three sessions, ask yourself:
Do I feel heard and respected?
Do I feel safe enough to be honest?
Does the psychologist understand what I'm trying to achieve?
Is there a sense of direction, even if progress is gradual?
Can I raise concerns about therapy with them?
Therapy isn't always comfortable. Feeling challenged or emotional can be part of good work. But you shouldn't feel judged, dismissed or unsafe.
It's okay to change psychologists
If the fit isn't right, it's okay to say so or to try someone else. It isn't a failure, and a good psychologist won't take it personally. Some people find the right person on the first try; others need two or three attempts. If you're claiming Medicare, your GP can write a new referral to a different psychologist.
Finding the right fit at Satya Psychology
Our team includes a registered psychologist, provisional psychologists and a counsellor, each with their own style and areas of interest, from perinatal mental health and ADHD to trauma, relationships and life transitions. Our values are authenticity, kindness and non-judgement, connection, and humour: we believe therapy works best when it's real, warm and human.
You can see us in person in Nobby Beach, by telehealth anywhere in Australia, or on Walk and Talk sessions along the Gold Coast.
Meet our team to read about each person's approach, or get in touch if you'd like help working out who might suit you.
This article is general information and isn't a substitute for individual advice.