Choosing a Boca Raton Psychologist can be a daunting task. There are a wide variety of degrees, licenses and certifications within the field of mental health and it can be very confusing for an individual to not only understand each one, but also decide what is going to work best for them. Hopefully, we can help to clear up some of the confusion about the mental health field to help you make the most educated decision in choosing the right Boca Raton Psychologist.
There are many characteristics and qualities that are important to consider when choosing a Boca Raton Psychologist, some of the most important being their individual personality and approach to therapy. Before you get to the point of evaluating these personal and individual traits, a good therapist must pass the test of good credentials. Though wisdom, character and compassion are important, education and knowledge are an essential foundation to a Boca Raton Psychologist’s practice.
The most common fields of study within the world of mental health are psychiatry, psychology, mental health counseling, marriage and family counseling, and clinical social work. These 5 educational backgrounds give each of their degreed professionals the comprehensive knowledge to practice psychotherapy in a variety of settings with a wide range of populations. Psychiatry is distinguished from this group, as psychiatrists are physicians with medical doctorates. A practicing Psychologist has a minimum of a master’s degree (MA, MS, MEd, MSW) in one of these fields and could also hold an education specialist degree (EdS), and/or a doctoral degree (PhD, PsyD, EdD).
The next essential credential for a competent Boca Raton Psychologist is supervised clinical experience. For most professionals, this is completed prior to state licensure and consists of extensive supervised training in a clinical setting over the course of several years. Finally, every competent Boca Raton Psychologist holds a valid state license in his or her field.
The above credentials make up an essential foundation for a competent Boca Raton Psychologist. Many Boca Raton Psychologist hold additional certifications to establish specialty areas within the field of mental health. Though these certifications are not necessary to treat patients effectively, they may enhance your experience and success as a patient and should be considered.
Once these credentials have been reviewed, you will find that you have narrowed your options of Boca Raton Psychologists to choose. You can then evaluate personality, character and compassion of the individual therapist to find the best match for you!
