Should I Hire a Psychologist During a Divorce?

How To Pick The Right Psychologist During Divorce If Therapy Is The Right Choice For You

When you decide it’s time to see a psychologist, the array of options out there may be a little daunting at first. To narrow this list of psychologists down, the American Psychological Association has put together a guide to make sure you choose the right psychologist for you.

First, you should evaluate whether therapy is right for you. Reasons to go to therapy include prolonged periods of feeling helpless, inability to do daily activities, excessive worrying, or harmful actions that hurt not just yourself, but others around you. Any of these reasons may be a good reason to go to therapy, but this list is far from exhaustive. Other reasons can facilitate the need for therapy, such as a major life change, lack of change, or trauma. Major life changes can include divorce or separation from your partner, so it’s good to have a psychologist to help you understand and process the myriad of emotions you’re sure to be feeling.

Next, you should take steps to find a psychologist. This can be done a few different ways. You can ask your primary care physician for a referral, contact your state or local psychological association, talk to family or friends, or ask around at your place of worship. Another option that the American Psychological Association presents is a psychologist locator on their website.

An important point to remember when selecting a psychologist is that they are selecting you, just as much as you are them. Psychologists often have to evaluate their current patient load, your insurance, and your particular issue. Generally if a psychologist is unable to see you, they can provide you with options of other potentially available psychologists in the area.

Choose A Psychologist That Is Licensed In Ohio For Therapy Sessions

So what do you want to know about a psychologist before making them your psychologist? You’ll probably want to make sure they are licensed in Ohio! Sometimes it can be good just to talk to someone, licensed or not; but if you think that therapy is right for you, you’ll want someone who has the training and certifications to help you deal with and process your feelings. Another important thing to find out early on is how much your psychologist is charging you. Therapy usually comes in blocks of 45-minute or hour sessions, so it’s a good rule of thumb to believe you’ll be charged per session, but some psychologists use different fee methods.

Also find out what sort of experience they have, and how they have treated what they’ve come across.  Some even have support groups that they run. Not every psychologist is going to be an expert in every field, so you’ll need to know if they have experience with you particular needs. How psychologists, psychiatrists, and therapists treat different disorders or mental problems can vary too: some use a pure counseling technique, others recommend counseling plus medication, and others could prescribe just medication. It’s important for you to be active in the treatment process, so be vocal about what type of treatment you are looking for.

Note that psychiatrists are allowed to directly prescribe medication, psychologists are not, but may recommend that your primary care physician prescribe you medication in accordance with their plan of treatment. If you are interested in learning more about different types of treatments that psychologists and other therapists engage in, Your Health in Mind has compiled a comprehensive list here.

Psychologists Can Assist Individuals In Moving Forward During Divorce. Choose The Right Therapy For You.

I am a strong proponent of encouraging my divorce clients to obtain counseling while going through a divorce. The counselor can be instrumental in helping the client work on divorce transition issues. Counseling during the divorce can often assist individuals to emotionally move forward in a healthy manner. I often find it very productive to involve other experts such as psychologists, financial advisors, and tax professionals as part of our “team”.

If you feel like a psychologist is the right choice for you, use this list to help narrow down your options to find the best psychologist to fit your individual needs. There are many types of therapy out there, but not all types work for every situation; make sure you find out what your psychologist’s certificates, fees, and methods are before you enter into a relationship with them. This will ensure you have the most beneficial relationship with your psychologist and they have the best opportunity to help you get through whatever it is you are going through.

PUBLISHERS NOTE: I want to thank Samuel Moore for his research and writing this blog. Sam is a third year law student at the University of Dayton School of Law and is externing with us this semester. Well done Sam!

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