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You will not be able to quickly find the best psychologist in Sydney from a simple Google search.
This is because the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) prohibits any psychologist from claiming they are the “best” or similar jargon in their marketing.
So if any psychologist says they are the “best” or has testimonials on their website, they are breaching code of conduct and you should stay far away!
To help you find your best psychologist near you, Elevate Psychologists Sydney has put together a few tips below.
There are 4 different types of psychologists you will come across in your search for the best psychologist:
In short, Clinical Psychologists have a Masters or Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and are the most experienced. As you move down the list the level of educational qualifications and experience decreases until you reach Provisional Psychologists who have only finished an undergraduate degree and are still completing their practical training as an intern.
This hierarchy is reflected in the Medicare rebate tiering system where Clinical Psychologists have the highest Medicare rebates reflecting their seniority and capabilities.
At Elevate Psychologists Sydney we offer Clinical Psychologists to help you.
The main difference between a counsellor and a psychologist is their level of training and the scope of their practice.
A counsellor typically has a degree or diploma in counselling or a related field, and provides short-term, solution-focused therapy for individuals experiencing common mental health issues such as stress, relationship difficulties, grief, and anxiety. Counsellors may work in a variety of settings, including community health centers, schools, and private practices. They often use talk therapy techniques such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to help clients manage their symptoms and improve their coping skills.
A psychologist, on the other hand, has completed a degree in psychology and has extensive training in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health disorders. Psychologists may provide a broader range of interventions, including more specialized therapies for complex mental health conditions such as personality disorders and schizophrenia. They may also conduct psychological assessments and provide psychological reports for legal or medical purposes. Psychologists may work in private practices, hospitals, or research settings.
Overall, while there is some overlap in the services provided by counsellors and psychologists, psychologists generally have a higher level of training and can provide more comprehensive mental health care services.
Counsellors are not eligible for Medicare rebates.
It is a personal preference on on whether you see a psychologist in person face-to-face or via telehealth (online video conference like Zoom or Skype).
Most psychologists now offer both options to their patients because telehealth helps people get convenient access to quality psychological care even if located far away from a clinic.
At Elevate Psychologists we offer both face-to-face consultations in our Sydney CBD clinic and telehealth options. Many patients alternate between the two options depending on their availability and preference.
Both face-to-face and telehealth consultations at Elevate Psychologists Sydney are eligible for Medicare rebates.
Your GP can be a convenient way to get psychologist suggestions.
However, be mindful that your doctor is seeing many patients a day with many different conditions and needs beyond mental health. Accordingly, GP psychologist recommendations are normally based off a small, pre-prepared list of people the GP knows and is not frequently revised or reviewed for quality.
Also note, GPs will often refer to their on-site psychologist (if they have one) or friends who may not be the “best” qualified for you or your situation.
Hence, it is important to do your own research on the psychologist to determine if they are suitable for your needs.
Any psychologist appearing on Google can be reviewed by someone with a Gmail account (fake or real).
But think about it – how many people seeking mental health services actually choose to tell the world about it in a public review on Google? Very few is the answer – hence the reliability of Google Reviews for psychologists.
You should be suspicious of any psychology clinic or psychologist with a large number of reviews because they are probably fake.
There are a number of online directories which can help you narrow down your search for the best psychologist for you.
The AHPRA and APS websites are highly reliable since AHPRA is the regulator and APS is the psychologist registration body in Australia.
Most of the other online directories (e.g. Psychology Today) are paid listing sites. That is not bad, but something to be aware of.
If you are comfortable asking your friends and family, they may have their own psychologist or know of good psychologists for you to consider.
Word of mouth is old fashion but remains a very effective way to find the best psychologists.
As you can see, there are a number of considerations for you to determine the best psychologist in Sydney for you.
At Elevate Psychologists Sydney, we have clinical psychologists with more than 20 years international experience who are available to help you with mental health concerns and improve your quality of life. Please contact us for more information.