Finding the Right Clinician
Your Guide to Finding Quality Mental Health Care
Written by Aimee Oliveri (Clinical Psychologist & Mental Health Content Creator) in Collaboration with Clarity Health Care
Finding a mental health clinician can be a daunting task. Much like searching for a job, finding the right clinician is a process. It might take a bit of time and patience, but it’s a long-term investment that will have lifelong benefits. So, how can you make the process smoother and find a clinician that suits your unique needs?
Step 1: See Your General Practitioner (GP) – Your Trusted First Step
If you’re unsure where to start, your first move is to see your General Practitioner (GP). They are your mental health navigators and can guide you to the best clinician for your situation. GPs often have a network of professionals they trust and can recommend. They can also help you access various funding sources, particularly if you’re living with a disability, are a veteran, a victim of crime, or have a workplace injury.
Step 2: Know Your Options
In Australia, a mental health professional is someone with specialised mental health training who delivers evidence-based therapy. It’s important to remember there is overlap among these professions and diversity within each, based on training, experience, and work settings. Consequently, the following descriptions emphasise the distinctive features of each profession.
Let's take a closer look at some of your options:
Mental Health Social Worker: Mental Health Social Workers specialise in mental health counselling. They work with people whilst considering the impact of their broader systems including their family of origin, their community, culture, as well as difficulties such as poverty and domestic violence. Visit the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) for more details.
Psychologist: Psychologists assess, diagnose, and treat psychological challenges like anxiety, depression, grief and trauma. They take a holistic and person-centred approach to treatment and draw from various psychological techniques. Explore more, including the different types of Psychologists on The Australian Psychological Society (APS) website.
Mental Health Nurse: Mental Health Nurses provide coordinated mental health care for patients and their families, particularly during life crises and transitions. They also educate patients and families on mental health conditions and treatments, and can administer and monitor medications prescribed by medical doctors. Learn more from The Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN).
Mental Health Occupational Therapist: Mental Health Occupational Therapist’s provide strengths-based and goal-directed services to assist individuals in establishing or regaining skills or "occupations" that are vital to their daily lives. Get additional information from Occupational Therapy Australia (OTA).
Psychiatrist: Psychiatrists are medical doctors with specialised mental health training. They provide therapy, and prescribe and manage medications for enduring and complex mental health like ADHD, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. For further details, visit The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP).
Step 3: Identify Your Treatment Goals - What Do You Want to Achieve?
Still unsure about who to consult? To help you make a decision, consider identifying your treatment goals. While it might be challenging to pinpoint your needs, it's crucial to ask yourself what you want to achieve. For instance, inquire, 'If I could change one aspect of my mental health, what would it be?' Examples could include 'developing strategies to manage anxiety,' 'building self-esteem,' or 'seeking a comprehensive mental health assessment.' By identifying your goals, you can better determine the most suitable professional to consult.
Step 4: Identify Your Needs - What Suits You Best?
Just as setting your goals is important, it's also vital to identify what you need from your clinician.
Things to consider:
- Gender preference
- LGBTQ+ friendly
- Telecare or in-person sessions
- Days of availability
You may also need to consider your financial situation. The fees mental health professionals charge can vary based on the type of service offered and the work setting. Consider options like bulk billing, sliding scale, rebated services, community-based services, and health insurance.
Step 5: Search for a Clinician That Aligns
Once you've defined your goals and needs, the next step is to find a clinician who aligns with them. While online reviews and social media can be useful for many searches, they are not as common in the mental health field for ethical reasons.
To find a clinician consider:
Using official search engines: Use trusted platforms like Health Directs service finder to connect with professionals whose qualifications have been verified
Seek Recommendations: Ask trusted friends or family for recommendations.
Consult Local Clinics or Services: Narrow down your search to a nearby clinic or service and allow them to guide you to the appropriate professional.
Consult Professional Bodies: For a clinician-specific search, visit the professional bodies mentioned earlier. For example, visit the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) to find a qualified social worker.
Remember to stay flexible in your approach and be open to multiple options. Sometimes it's more important to find the right person, than the right profession.
Step 6: Get Your Name on multiple Waitlists - Be Patient
Mental Health Clinicians are in high demand, and waitlists can vary from immediate availability to several months. Once you've narrowed your choices down, put your name on a few waitlists. Quality care is worth the wait, and you're investing in your well-being.
Step 7: Reflect After the First Appointment
Your search doesn't necessarily end once you've found a clinician. Give it time, but also trust your instincts. If something doesn't feel right, your decision is not set in stone. Don't hesitate to provide feedback or search elsewhere.
Take time to reflect:
How did you feel during the sessions?
Are the key elements there? Did you feel comfortable, heard?
Do you believe the clinician understands your needs and is equipped to support you?
Do you need more time to build a comfortable rapport, or is there something amiss?
Why don’t we have both?
It is also perfectly normal to require the services of different clinicians at various stages or even simultaneously.
In Sum - The Journey to Quality Mental Health Care
Finding the right clinician is a process that takes time. There are many types of mental health professionals to choose from, and it's perfectly okay to explore different options and seek a better fit if something doesn't feel right.
If you're searching for a clinician, consider visiting our website to explore our exceptional team of clinicians,, including Psychologists and Clinical Psychologists. Your mental well-being is a priority, and we're here to support you in your journey.
The key interventions our Psychologists and Clinical Psychologists are trained in include:
Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing (EMDR Therapy)
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Schema Therapy
Motivational Interviewing
Family and Couples Therapy