How do I get a therapist?

Question

I feel like I should go and talk to someone. What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist? How do you find them? Can I just go and pay for one visit? How does payment work? What is it like, I'm scared.

Answer 1

Look most of the time people need a therapist because something is missing in there life or they have problems look i think the best thing to do is to shearch though religons and shearch for the meaing of life becuase i beleive this life is short full of un happiness and the ture happiness is in paradice so worship one god i find my peace in islam the religon for humanity its helped all my problems in life so study i little about it you may liek it. may allah (god in arabic) guide you and anybody esle shearching for the turth to the rigth path.  

Answer 2

Psychiatrists can dispense medication, and have a doctorate degree.  Psychologists can have anything from a bachelor's to a PhD.  I'd start by looking a few up in the yellow pages and ask them some basic questions to decide if they are right for you.  For example

-What therapeutic methods do you use?  What do they mean?

-What are your areas of interest? (Many specialize in things like adolescents, eating disorders, etc.)

-What are your expectations of a patient?

You should get a sense of whether this person is a good match for you or not.  Almost everyone has a sliding scale for payment based on ability to pay.  You can ask about rates during your phone call.

You can go for just one visit, but it will be difficult to get much out of an initial visit.  Part of the therapeutic process is establishing a trusting relationship, and that's not really possible in one session.

Answer 3

A psychologist uses therapies to help you, and does not prescribe medications. They help you by teaching you therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy,  exposure therapy, and pscyotherapy. And there are a lot more therapies out there.

A psychiatrist prescribes medicines for mental health reasons. I went to a psychiatrist and was prescribed medications with side affects that put me in a hospital.

I wish I would have gone to a psychologist.

Answer 4

I believe you will find sharing your thoughts with a therapist is a very beneficial and rewarding experience.

However.....

Lousy, flaky, ignorant therapists abound.  Be careful.  Investigate.  You won't believe what is walking around out there with credentials.  At the same time, though, you will be surprised how beneficial a good therapist is.

I believe the other responses are trying to guide you to make sure what direction you should pursue.  Having ADD, I visit a both a psychologist (every once in a while) and sometimes a psychiatrist (to keep up on my reactions to medication.)

It is critical that you pursue the proper course, and then follow up with some legitimate investigation as to the quality of couseling you will receive.

Do not....I repeat....Do not be afraid to ask people that you know have been to therapists for their recommendations.  They will probably give you names of those to avoid, and names of those to consider.   I gaurantee that no one will look down on you for wanting to visit a therapist.