Finding the Best Psychologist in Melbourne

It is normal for anyone to want to find “the Best” Psychologist in Melbourne for their emotional health journey.   We know from research and extensive lived-experience of clients and clinicians that the therapeutic fit between the psychologist and you can contribute significantly to the effectiveness of any type of therapy. 

Although we may not voice it, most human beings form an initial impression of another person (including their psychologist) within the first minutes, if not seconds of their encounter.   Some of these may be based upon stereotypes and assumptions of another person’s identity and background, which is completely understandable for human-to-human interactions.   In the most reasonable of ways, any persons embarking upon treatment is interested in the variation of questions that we all have when seeking help:

  • Will the psychologist understand me?

  • Will I feel and be safe with this psychologist/therapist?

  • Do they have the skills and experience to help me?

A few of these questions can be considered before you meet the psychologist in person. You can browse the list of the clinicians here and read about their areas of interests and experience as well as therapy approaches. 

For most clients, however, they tell us that they can develop a strong sense of the therapeutic relationship in the first 2-3 sessions of meeting their Psychologist. This is also why we offer to book more than 3 sessions in the initial booking process, to help give you and the new-to-you psychologist the appropriate time and space to engage in a thorough assessment and initial consideration of the therapeutic-fit. 

Often, clients might have some specific requests in mind.  It can be important to discuss your preferences with our Client Support Team and indicate how flexible you feel about some requirements, for example:

  • Some clients may request that the therapist be of a particular gender identity, such that they might feel safe more easily in the room

  • Other times clients might have strong intent to consider specific therapies, e.g., EMDR in the foreseeable future, and would like to find a Psychologist who would be able to provide treatment at the appropriate time

  • Sometimes location or afterhours availability can direct your choice (and yes, we do have psychologists who work after 5pm and/or on weekends).


The myth of the perfect psychologist

A helpful concept to introduce here might be that of the “good enough” therapist, extending from psychoanalytic concept first coined by Donald Winnicott.  This concept recognises that a healthy relationship does not require perfection and an absence of disappointments, but rather, a consistent, realistic and balanced approach to meeting the needs a vulnerable person. 

In addition to providing a stable and nurturing presence, an important role of therapy can include managing challenges and ruptures in the therapeutic relationship in a healthy and safe way.  It is VERY important to note that we are referring to more subtle disappointments that emerge in the course of long-term therapy (e.g, a moment of mis-attunement, communication misunderstanding) and not any ethical or boundary breaches, such as boundary transgressions. 

Often, we see that these opportunities for understanding or repairing earlier attachment trauma can arise throughout any therapeutic process.  How these moments are met and explored can depend upon the therapeutic goals that you and your psychologist has discussed. 

 

What happens if the fit doesn’t feel right with my psychologist from the start?

For some client-therapist combinations, one or both parties might decide not to continue during / after the initial meeting and assessment sessions.  This is, in fact, a very important part of the treatment planning process and due to no fault of any one party.

For clients, they may identify that the psychologist’s style is not the right fit for them and voice this either to the Psychologist directly or speak with our Client Support Team if they feel more comfortable that way.  Sometimes, if the specifics of the issue are better understood, it can lead to a positive experience of repair.

Other times, especially if it comes to a psychologist’s therapeutic approaches and / or areas of experience, it can be discovered during the assessment process that your current needs would be better met by a different psychologist.  In this situation, either the psychologist or our Client Support Team may be able to make suggestions that are valuable to you in your future choices / options for therapy and Psychologists.  This can be a crucial milestone gain for some individuals, even if, at the time it feels like a setback. 

In situations where you are looking to transfer your assessment and care to a new Psychologist, you can consider the option of giving consent to your current Psychologist to provide a handover to your new (or existing) clinical team.  This way, useful information that has been gained during the sessions you have attended can be utilised in your immediate and long-term treatment journey. 

frequently asked questions

  • Finding the psychologist that fits your mental health goals can be a process.  If this is your first experience in therapy, you may have less information about your current needs as you are in a space of exploration and curiosity.  On the other hand, you may have a strong sense of your preferences, which can include the interpersonal-fit (“vibe”), specialisation subsets (“skills”) and availability logistics (“fees and appointment timing”).

    In general, information around areas of interests and skills can be found on our website’s Team section and via our Client Support Team, the vibe of a therapist is often an in-person experience. 

  • This can vary for each individual and depends on your priorities and needs.  Some people prioritise their sense of being heard and nurtured during their sessions whilst others prefer a specific clinical or treatment approach or skill set (e.g. EMDR).  You may have multiple goals and these may change depending on the stage of your recovery.

    Sometimes, the idea of “best” or “ideal” can be counterproductive to our experience of seeking care, if being stuck behind this challenge of finding “the best” actually prevents us from starting the journey.  On the other hand, it’s also very valid and important to find a therapy dynamic that feels collaborative and reasonably adaptive to your needs as well as having appropriate, safe-enough boundaries.

  • There is strong evidence that the therapeutic fit and sense of rapport that we have with our therapist is central to the positive outcomes.   This is regardless of the type of treatment.  It can be important, where possible, to share with your psychologist any issues and tensions arising in the therapeutic space for you, as for many people, this can be a helpful experience to provide feedback or express your needs in a safe-enough space.

  • Yes.  Our Client Support Team is experienced in helping you identify your needs and match you with clinicians in our team.  We have psychologists and therapists with experience in treatment for issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD and ASD, and many more.