How to find the right mental health professional for me?

Starting therapy can feel overwhelming. But it can also be an incredibly empowering experience to approach with curiosity and intention. There are several aspects to consider while you go through the process of finding a mental health professional who fits your needs.

We suggest that you navigate this process using a funnel approach, which would require you to start with the broad question, “What kind of professional do I need?” You can then go on to ask, “What specializations do I need this professional to have?” After figuring this out, you can ask potential mental health professionals some questions over an intake call and evaluate whether you feel comfortable and connected to them over the first session or so.

To help you answer these questions, I have elaborated on each aspect of finding the right therapeutic fit:

• The qualifications of a mental health professional

• The professional specializations of a therapist

• The answers you receive during the intake call/session

• The chemistry you feel with your therapist in the first few sessions

In India, most mental health professionals fall into either of the three categories: psychotherapist, clinical psychologist or psychiatrist. So how should you decide which professional to go to yourself?

If you’re looking for talk therapy, you can consider a psychotherapist. If you’re looking to take tests and get a diagnosis, you can meet with a clinical psychologist. If you’re looking for medication, the only qualified mental health professional is a psychiatrist. You can also have a team of professionals working collaboratively to give you the most comprehensive care.

In the table below, we’ve elaborated upon the role and functioning of each type of mental health professional.

Parameter	Psychotherapist	Clinical Psychologist	Psychiatrist
Training	Training in counseling and psychotherapy techniques and therapeutic interventions	Extensive training in psychological assessment and diagnosis	Medical training with a focus on psychopharmacology.
Role	Provide talk therapy to address various psychological concerns	Provide clinical testing for psychological disorders	Provide diagnoses and treat psychiatric disorders through medical interventions
Approach	Focus on providing counseling and talk therapy to individuals dealing with various life issues	Utilize psychological interventions and treatments to provide symptom management	Focus on treatment through medication management
Prescription of Medicines	Cannot prescribe medication	Cannot prescribe medication	Can prescribe medication as part of treatment plans
Average Session Duration	45-60 minutes/once per week	45-60 minutes for therapy/once per week, test administration varies with duration of test	15 - 30 minutes/once every 1-2 months based on need
Qualifications & Licensing	Master’s Degree in Counseling/Psychotherapy	Master’s and MPhil degree in Clinical Psychology; Licensed by Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI)	Medical Degree (MBBS), Postgraduate specialization in psychiatry (MD)

Remember, there are no fixed hierarchies (based on skill levels, for example) within mental health designations. The ‘correct’ mental health professional for you can depend on a variety of factors including the nature and severity of your concerns, what feels accessible, your values and worldview as well as more logistic factors like time constraints.

If at this stage you believe that you wish to see a therapist or clinical psychologist, you might begin to wonder, ““How do I find a therapist that fits my needs?”

With looking for a suitable therapist comes the problem of decoding the multitude of phrases that different therapists use to describe their style, techniques, and nature of work. Therapists may specialize in a number of ways, but three most common ways are:

• Theoretical orientation

• Population

• Diagnoses

A clinician’s theoretical orientation is the “lens” they use to conceptualize therapy. Many clinicians may lean toward a particular orientation, but can also blend multiple orientations (known as being “eclectic”) depending what is needed for the client. Figuring out which orientation you align with can greatly help with a therapist who aligns with your needs and values.

While some therapists might work across the lifespan, others might also uniquely work with either children, young adults, or geriatric populations. They also may specialize working with particular groups of people like the queer community or neurodivergent folks.

Some professionals also gain additional certifications or experience in working with certain diagnoses and clinical issues, such as disordered eating, OCD, depression, bipolar disorder, etc.

Trying to think of these 3 aspects can help you narrow down on the therapists you wish to reach out to and find someone who fits your needs!

Go to ARTICLE to read about questions you should ask your therapist and the chemistry you should feel.