San Diego is a city in southern California known for it’s wonderful year round weather and gorgeous beaches. San Diego has many great attractions, wonderful restaurants and many employment opportunities. San Diego also has a high cost of living, limited public transportation and faces challenges with water scarcity. Even in the beautiful city of San Diego, people struggle with mental health concerns like stress, anxiety and depression. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than 30 million Americans need help dealing with relationship problems, depression, grief and loss, and stress. Those problems can at times be significantly debilitating. At times, we might need outside help from a trained, licensed professional like a psychologist.

Psychologists who specialize in psychotherapy and other forms of psychological treatment, are highly trained professionals with expertise in behavior change, mental health assessment, and diagnosis and treatment. Psychologists are licensed in the state they practice and work in various settings such as hospitals, schools, mental health centers and private practice. Psychologists apply scientifically validated strategies to help people change their thoughts, behaviors and emotions. Psychotherapy is a collaborative effort between an individual and a psychologist which provides a supportive environment to talk openly and confidentially about struggles and a variety of concerns.

I’m aware that you have many mental health providers available to work with in San Diego. I recommend you work with a psychologist given their extensive level of training. After graduating from college, psychologists spend an average of six years in graduate education training and possibly research before receiving a doctoral degree. As part of their professional training, psychologists must complete a supervised one year clinical internship in a organized health setting or hospital. Psychologists also spend at least one year of supervised post-doctoral experience before they can practice independently in any health care arena. The combination of doctoral-level training and a clinical internship is what distinguishes psychologists from many other mental health care providers.

If you’re looking for a San Diego psychologist, let’s review some ways to find the right one for you.

Here are some tips to consider while looking for a psychologist in San Diego.

1. Does the psychologist offer in-person and/or telehealth sessions?

2. Is the psychologist’s website helpful in getting a sense of the person and how he or she works with clients?

3. If you leave a voice message or email, does the psychologist respond in a timely manner?

4. What kinds of treatments does the psychologist use and have they been proven effective for dealing with your concerns?

5. Remind yourself that finding the right psychologist for you is worth the effort. A good psychologist can help you reduce your symptoms, and develop confidence and skills to deal with mental health matters for the rest of your life.

6. While all psychologists are trained in compassion and understanding, having a psychologist who is part of your community, or who has experience working with people from your community, can make a positive difference.

I believe a good way to determine the goodness of fit is to be able to chat briefly with the psychologist. Make sure the psychologist offers a free phone consultation. Ask about how the psychologist will address your concerns and how he or she will help you accomplish your goals. It’s a chance for you to ask the psychologist some questions about his or her areas of specialty. Get a good sense of what therapy sessions will be like working with this psychologist. Ask questions that help you determine if you’d feel comfortable working with the psychologist. Therapy isn’t just for chatting weekly, it is about reaching your goals and feeling respected and supported.

If you’re looking for mental health support, please contact me to schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation.