Finding the right psychologist is an important first step in beginning therapy. For many people, choosing a psychologist is not simply about finding the next available appointment. It is also about finding someone who appears well placed to support your needs, circumstances, goals, and preferences.

At The Victorian Psychology Clinic, we understand that starting therapy can feel like a big step. You may be wondering whether a psychologist has experience with the concerns you are bringing to therapy, whether their approach will suit you, whether you will feel comfortable speaking with them, or whether your appointment preferences can be accommodated.

For this reason, we do not match people with psychologists based on availability alone. While appointment availability is an important practical consideration, we also aim to make a thoughtful match based on the information available to us at the time. This may include your presenting concerns, age group, appointment preferences, funding needs, and the psychologist’s areas of practice.

What should you consider when choosing a psychologist?

When looking for a psychologist, there are several factors that may help guide your decision. These can include the type of support you are looking for, whether you prefer face-to-face or telehealth appointments, your availability, and whether the psychologist works with your age group or presenting concerns.

Some people may also have a preference for a particular therapy approach, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, EMDR, Schema Therapy, or other evidence-based approaches. Others may be less sure about the type of therapy they need and may simply know that they would like support with anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, relationships, life transitions, grief, or another concern.

You do not need to have all of this worked out before contacting us. Part of our role is to gather enough brief information to help guide you toward a psychologist who may be suitable.

When you contact our Client Relations Team

When you contact The Victorian Psychology Clinic, our Client Relations Team will usually ask for some brief information to help guide the matching process. This may include:

• your preferred appointment days and times
• whether you are seeking face-to-face or telehealth appointments
• your age group
• your general presenting concerns
• any funding or referral information that may be relevant
• any other information you feel is important for us to know

This information helps our team consider which psychologist may be most appropriate based on your needs and the psychologist’s areas of practice.

It is important to note that this initial conversation is not a clinical intake or assessment. Our Client Relations Officers are not clinicians and are not clinically trained. Their role is to gather enough practical and general information to help support an appropriate match, while keeping the process respectful, efficient, and focused on your needs.

You can review psychologist profiles

You are welcome to review the psychologist profiles available on our website. These profiles can provide helpful information about each psychologist’s background, areas of interest, therapeutic approach, appointment types, and availability.

Sometimes, you may feel drawn to a particular psychologist after reading their profile. Where possible, we will take this into account. However, there may be times where our Client Relations Team recommends considering a different psychologist who may appear more closely matched to your presenting concerns, availability, funding needs, or other relevant factors.

This does not mean your preference is not important. Rather, it reflects our aim to support a thoughtful match between your needs and the psychologist’s areas of practice.

Why availability is not the only factor

It can be tempting to book the earliest available appointment, especially if you have been waiting to start therapy. However, the right fit is also important.

Matching is not only about finding a psychologist with an available appointment. It is also about considering whether the psychologist appears appropriately placed to support the concerns you are bringing to therapy, based on the information available at the time.

All psychologists are required to practise within their scope of competence. This means psychologists should only provide services in areas where they have the appropriate knowledge, training, experience, and professional competence.

At The Victorian Psychology Clinic, we take this seriously. If we do not believe we are able to adequately support your needs, we will not knowingly offer an appointment simply because one is available. In some cases, a different clinician, service, or referral pathway may be more appropriate.

While it is not always possible to know from the outset whether a psychologist will be the right fit, this process is designed to support responsible and thoughtful care. The aim is not just to offer an appointment, but to help you begin therapy with someone who appears appropriately placed to support you.

Completing your intake and consent form

Once your appointment has been arranged, you will be asked to complete an intake and consent form before your first session. We ask that this be completed at least 48 hours prior to your appointment where possible.

This form gives you the opportunity to provide further details about yourself, your concerns, and what you are hoping to gain from therapy. It also allows your psychologist to review relevant information before the first appointment and begin to understand a little about you before you meet.

The information provided in the intake and consent form becomes part of your clinical record. It is available to your treating psychologist and is not used by the Client Relations Team as part of general administration.

This process also gives your psychologist an opportunity to consider whether there is any information that may indicate a different allocation would be more appropriate.

Your first appointment is also part of the matching process

Your first appointment is usually an intake or initial assessment session. This means it is a chance for your psychologist to learn more about you, including what has brought you to therapy, what you may have experienced previously, and what you would like support with.

It is also an opportunity for you to get a feel for the psychologist’s style and consider whether you feel comfortable working with them.

The therapeutic relationship is an important part of effective therapy. Research has consistently shown that the relationship between a client and therapist, often referred to as the therapeutic alliance, can play an important role in therapy outcomes.

For this reason, it is okay if you do not immediately know whether the psychologist is the right fit. First sessions can sometimes feel emotional, awkward, or overwhelming, particularly when discussing personal information for the first time. You do not need to make a decision straight away.

At the same time, if something does not feel right, you should not feel bad about raising this or considering whether another psychologist may be a better fit.

What if another psychologist or service is more appropriate?

On rare occasions, your psychologist may identify during or after the first appointment that another clinician or service may be better suited to your needs. This may happen if your presenting concerns are outside the psychologist’s scope of competence, if another psychologist has more relevant experience, or if a different type of support would be more appropriate.

While this can sometimes feel disappointing, it is ultimately done in your best interests. The goal is to ensure you are supported by the right person, in the right setting, wherever possible.

Choosing a psychologist at The Victorian Psychology Clinic

At The Victorian Psychology Clinic, our matching process is designed to be thoughtful, responsible, and client-centred.

We consider practical factors such as availability, appointment type, and funding, but we also consider your presenting concerns, clinician experience, and whether VPC appears to be an appropriate service for you at that time.

The aim is not simply to fill appointments. The aim is to help you begin therapy with a psychologist who appears appropriately placed to support you.

If you are looking for a psychologist, you are welcome to contact our Client Relations Team to discuss appointment options, clinician availability, and whether one of the psychologists consulting at The Victorian Psychology Clinic may be suitable for your needs.