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How To Find The Best Psychologist In Sydney?
Seeking help is hard enough, but trying to find the best psychologist in Sydney can feel even more overwhelming. You’d think a quick google search would solve the issue, but the results might prove different.
Our question? Why is it so difficult to find the best psychologist in Sydney? Why are there no articles listing the ‘best psychologists in Sydney’ or ranking the ‘top Sydney psychology clinics’?
Here’s why.
There are strict rules and guidelines when it comes to advertising or promoting yourself as a healthcare provider in Australia. As clinics or psychology professionals, we are responsible for following the advertising guidelines of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Under the rules, it restricts anyone from claiming themselves to be “the best” or “the most effective.”
A clear cut list of ‘the best psychologists in Sydney’ might seem helpful on the surface but, in fact, the regulations are a safeguard. They protect mental health from becoming a commercialised industry. This means healthcare professionals can’t compete in advertising nor make detrimental claims to ‘cure’ individuals. It instils a code of ethics into the world of clinical psychology. People are often at their most vulnerable when seeking mental health support so it’s vital that the healthcare space is a safe one.
Where should you begin finding the best psychologist in Sydney?
There are some great resources available to help you begin your search and get an overview of the most qualified psychologists Sydney has to offer.
AHPRA
As we mentioned before, AHPRA is a great resource in finding a registered health professional. Their policies and standards are in place to protect anyone seeking help. All practitioners listed on their website are verified in accordance with their regulations, and their search engine allows you to narrow down your preferences by profession, location, and what you might think is ‘the best psychologist in Sydney’.
Your GP
With many things, consulting your GP can be a great place to start. They provide a safe and confidential space when seeking help, and they can offer a recommendation and referral. They can also explain the benefits of the Mental Health Care Plan in claiming rebates for your sessions. A limitation of a GP referral is that their recommendations may be narrowed down to who they know or who their in-house psychologist is.
Online Directories
There are three major paid directories that list the therapists in your area. Although, there’s not a lot of information on the quality of each practitioner, it does give a comprehensive index of choice.
- Australian Psychological Society’s (APS) Find A Psychologist
- Australian Clinical Psychology Association’s (ACPA) Find A Clinical Psychologist
- Psychology Today’s Find Counselling
Word of mouth
Recommendations are always appreciated. Speaking with others can be a beneficial way to find the best psychologist in Sydney for you. You’ll never see testimonials on clinic websites directly linked to a professional client due to confidentiality of information, which is why public reviews are rare. But sometimes those closest to us have needed help themselves, or know of someone else who’s received support, and through that you may end up getting a high-quality recommendation.
What qualifies a clinical psychologist?
There are multiple ways to become a psychologist but there are some varying levels in qualifications and expertise. In order to work and practice, all clinical psychologists must complete an undergraduate in the field of psychology, and then complete a Clinical Masters degree which includes multiple internships.
At Mind Matters, all our psychologists hold a Masters degree in their field as we want to make sure our clients get the best therapy to suit their needs. We have a practical and detailed triage process to determine which psychologist is the best for your personal journey. Our priority is your wellbeing, and if we are not sure that we are the best fit for you, we’ll always refer you to someone who may be better suited for you.Looking for a psychologist in Sydney? At Mind Matters we don’t just listen, we help you understand behaviours, combat unhelpful patterns and become more resilient. If you’d like to enquire about our clinic, contact our friendly team today.
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