Mental health has been the center of attention in recent years due to the events that have occurred. The increase in attention to mental health issues has propelled many to speak up and seek help. Through different social media platforms, individuals and organisations from different industries have become more proactive in sharing information on mental health disorders and available resources. Additionally, as a whole, more resources have been created to cater to the increasing demand for mental health services. However, with the increasing amount of information available through social media, it is not uncommon to see misinformation spread through these platforms. As we all know, misinformation can have many implications like creating fear towards people who seek help from mental health professionals, thus increasing stigma. Therefore, even though there are still obstacles that would hinder help-seeking behaviour in our society, we are progressing towards making mental health services more accessible and available for everyone. As one embarks on their journey to find the right provider for their needs, do they know what to look out for to ensure that they will be in good hands? In this article, we hope to help shed light on what one should look out for when looking for a mental health service provider and how to get started on their journey on looking for a therapist.
Step 1: Choosing the therapist
Registration
A simple search on google would result in many different choices of providers. However, it should be noted that in Singapore, counsellors and psychologists are not a regulated profession in Singapore. As such, it is not compulsory for practitioners to be registered to a specific organisaton as there is no official licensing body at the moment. Moreover, there is no governing body that manages mental health care providers in an official capacity. As of now, practitioners in Singapore have the option to be registered with organisations like the Singapore Psychological Society (SPS) and Singapore Association for Counselling (SAC). These organisations provide guidance on professional and ethical conduct for their members. For SPS, they serve to protect the welfare of the users of psychological services and to maintain and advance professional standards of psychological service providers. Hence, registration criteria are stringent and specific to the therapist’s experiences. It ensures that registered psychologists have reached a professional standard of ethical practice. On the respective websites, a directory of registered psychologists and counsellors is made available for the public to have easy access to it.
Credentials
There are many institutions that the therapist can graduate from. As someone who is not in the industry, it may be hard to understand the differences in these degrees. There are many places that therapists can graduate from. However, the differences typically lie in the number of hours they spend in their practicums (e.g., direct client contact) and supervision (e.g., receiving guidance from a more senior practitioner). These hours directly influence the amount of exposure the therapist has. To some extent, their experiences impact their competency as therapists. This information can be found through researching on the degrees that the therapist has obtained. Generally, psychologist hold post-graduate degrees in applied psychology (i.e., Doctor of Psychology (clinical) or Masters in Clinical Psychology). Alternatively, therapists who are registered with SPS (i.e., Singapore Register of Psychologists) or SAC (i.e., clinical member), would have met the criteria for supervised practicum and supervision.
Specialty
Based on the therapists, they may have specialised groups of people or conditions that they work with. Some therapists may have more experience with children while others may have more exposure to adults. Moreover, the approaches that they use may vary based on their training and interests. Hence, depending on one’s preference, they can choose to connect with therapists that they are more aligned with.
Step 2: Connecting with the chosen one
Choosing a therapist that is a match can be tricky. As this is the person that you will be vulnerable with, there is a need to feel comfortable and heard by the therapist. It is crucial that one connects with their chosen therapist through their official contact detail or social media to ensure that they reach the right person. Commonly, many start their journey through referrals from trusted people. However, as everyone is different, a match for someone else may not be it for you. Therefore, there is a need for one to discern for themselves and to discuss with their therapist if they feel that it is not working out for them. It is normal to change therapists if one feels uncomfortable with their chosen therapist.
Step 3: Understanding how it works
As one begin their help-seeking journey, they may not be aware of what questions to ask or areas to be curious about. Thus, the American Psychological Association has compiled a list of questions that the clients can ask to help have a better understanding of what the therapy would be like and management of practical issues like payment, session duration and frequency, and location of the sessions.
Are you a licensed psychologist? How many years have you been practicing psychology?
I have been feeling (anxious, tense, depressed, etc.) and I'm having problems (with my job, my marriage, eating, sleeping, etc.). What experience do you have helping people with these types of problems?
What are your areas of expertise — for example, working with children and families?
What kinds of treatments do you use, and have they been proven effective for dealing with my kind of problem or issue?
What are your fees? (Fees are usually based on a 45-minute to 50-minute session.) Do you have a sliding-scale fee policy?
What types of insurance do you accept? Will you accept direct billing to or payment from my insurance company? Are you affiliated with any managed care organizations? Do you accept Medicare or Medicaid insurance?
During initial meetings, it would be helpful for one to share with the therapist their concerns and what brought them to therapy in the first place. This would aid the therapist in understanding the needs of the client and subsequently in goal setting with them.
Step 4: Starting therapy
Congratulations! At this point, one would have started therapy. As one goes through the process of healing, it is normal to feel pain and possibly resistance towards therapy as it is a space where difficult things are discussed. Take your time and be gentle with yourself. Work with your therapist towards the goal that you want. It is not an easy journey but it would be worth it.
Interesting read
https://www.apa.org/topics/psychotherapy/choose-therapist
https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/asia/singapore-develop-national-portal-mental-health-resources
https://www.healthhub.sg/programmes/186/MindSG/About-Mental-Well-Being#home