Aim for brains with minimal jerk
If you want a good mechanic, find someone who understands your car and how to fix it… but also steer clear of jerks. The same applies to your mental health.
The right online psychologist for you will have 2 key qualities:
1. They will understand your problems incredibly well and provide you with a clear map of how to improve your life (the progress component).
2. They also need to be someone you like and get along with (the relationship component).
"Doing therapy is an important journey, you need to have a competent and likeable guide"
So how does Online Psychologists Australia help with these 2 components?
In terms of finding a psychologist who you really get along with, rest assured - we contain 0% jerk. Warm, intelligent and kind people make the best psychologists. That's who we recruit and keep.
To find someone with experience treating your problems, take the time to contact us or use our online booking filter to see who would be a good fit for you. Start confidently.
How do I know if my Online Psychologist is any good?
You should feel confident after a few sessions that your psychologist really understands you, your problems, and the path forward.
You should also feel that your psychologist is curious and keen to understand your life and experience at a deep level.
You should also feel that your psychologist is flexible and open to shifting focus, and changing strategies, if you’re not getting the results you want.
You should also feel that your psychologist is able to “call you out” on things you may be doing intentionally/unintentionally to undermine your own progress and well-being. Tough love can help.
How do I increase my chances of success in online counselling?
Success in online counselling comes down to what you bring to therapy, as well as what your therapist does with you.
Don’t stay in procrastination and rumination.
Nothing erodes mental health and well-being as much as rumination and procrastination - they are brilliant fuel for stagnating growth and maintaining anxiety and depression. Momentum brings
progress so bring your goals and problems into the light with a professional (or even a loved one).
Experiment and leap
Bring an open mind to explore and make sense of your problems and have courage to make small changes - the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. Over time, small changes make big results. Explore your mind, behaviour and history, but aim for change.
Be messy and vague
If your issues and solutions were crystal clear in your mind, you wouldn't be coming to therapy. Allow yourself the right to be confused, messy, and unsure of exactly what is going on. Your online counsellor expects exactly that! Let the clarity come later.
Focus on results
When it comes to your well-being, it's normal to feel like you’re putting a puzzle together and to have the wisdom that some change takes time but, having a sense of progress is incredibly important in all aspects of life. Therapy is no different. Keep asking yourself: does the path forward seem clear? When I do the work, do I feel like I’m heading in the right direction?
What your online psychologist expects from you
They expect you to not have it all figured out. You’ve come to make sense of the problems, be messy… Especially at the beginning!
Your psychologist also expects your motivation and focus will fluctuate over time. You’re not a robot, you can still make excellent progress to feel better without being perfectionistic.
There is also an expectation that there isn’t one right “pace” of therapy. Like dancing, starting therapy can be a bit awkward as you become comfortable with your online psychologist. But remember that they only expect you to share openly and honestly to the degree that you feel trust and cared for. This takes courage at the start, and is easier with time.
How do I find the right online psychologist for me?
the summary
Simple.
1. Brainstorm some of the problems/goals you want to work on.
2. Be matched to a smart and likeable person who can be your guide. 3. Be messy AND move forward.
4. Celebrate choosing courage over procrastination, action over stagnation. Getting started is always the hardest part and so beginning deserves a reward!
Theodore Roosevelt said it well:
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong [person] stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the [person] who is actually in the arena…who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly"