Tips For Choosing A Reliable Counselling Psychologist Calgary

By Karyn Shields


Mental problems can have devastating consequences on the life of an individual. It could be a simple problem of stress, but if not addressed it could lead to depression and even mental collapse. This makes it very important that people seek medical attention before the issues gets out of hand. If you have been looking for help but you cannot find any, read on and discover how you can easily find a counselling psychologist Calgary expert.

The first process of choosing a therapist is to consider education. If you want a professional, then go for someone with a graduate level degree. Some people attend a few seminars, get certificates of participation and want to call themselves psychologists. Such individuals may have learned just one particular therapeutic approach and they cannot deal with a patient who need quality attention.

Humans have a very complex mind. Even with the best machines and equipment, it has never been fully studied. However, a psychologist with a degree is better placed to diagnose and deal with many of the psychological problems that people encounter. Without proper diagnosis, the problem could keep recurring, which can be damaging.

Ask the counselor if he or she is licensed. The state requires that these professional be licensed before starting to offer their services to the public. Having a license shows that the professional has met the minimum state requirements, including a give hours of supervised experience. Of course, licensing is not mandatory and you will find several counselors with provide effective services without a license.

Ensure that the professional adheres to the principles of ethics. There are boundary, confidentiality, and dual relationships guidelines that must be observed during the entire period of treatment. This ensure that the client maintains autonomy and is treated with the required level of respect so as not to jeopardize the treatment process. Entering into any kind of relationship with a patient, therefore, is highly unprofessional and unethical.

Avoid counselors that make promises. A therapist can provide hope, but it is wrong to offer the patient absolute unconditional guarantees. It is impossible to know the outcome of a therapeutic process until the end. Patients are different and because a certain approach produced positive results on one person does not guarantee that the same will work on another.

It is best to go for a professional that seeks regular peer consultation. It takes years to understand human psychology. It is therefore important for professionals in this field to come together regularly to share their experiences in the field. These will help them learn and even discover their own blind spots.

Choose an experienced counselor. Because the field of psychology is wide, many people learn on the field rather than through classroom. Formal education only helps in understanding the theory that is underneath human psychology. That is why someone who has practiced for twenty years may understand several issues.

Make sure that the expert has no complaints against him or her. Check with the licensing board. If you find any, choose another individual.




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