Continued from the previous article, where I talked about a non-typical selection criterion, despite the fact that it is very important. Today I will start with recommendations, since for many this is the main selection criterion. I hear from many colleagues that they are approached in most cases by word of mouth. Since it is assumed that the specialist has been tested by someone, which means he is more reliable and confirmed to be good in some way. Let's consider. 🔶 Recommendations They, of course, make our choice easier, especially if they come from those you trust. It’s good if recommendations come from people who understand psychology and work in the psychological community. Or if it’s just an acquaintance or friend who visited a psychologist and was satisfied. But there are reservations here too. No one can guarantee you that someone they consider a good specialist or who has helped someone will suit you and help you with your question (perhaps a friend came up with something completely different). Everyone has quite a different perception. Conclusion - you can listen to the recommendations, and draw conclusions whether or not it suits you or not, by observing a specialist online and/or at an introductory meeting (if there are any), or at the first meetings with him.🔶 Education Of course, an important point. Here you can ask about it or view your diploma and certificates on the website or in your account. A “specialist” who limited himself to two or three month courses can be immediately dismissed. There must be basic, institute education and additional education in areas of psychotherapy and individual topics of working with clients. Again, this information adds points, but does not guarantee that the person has mastered the material well and is successful in practice.🔶 Specialization of a psychologist/psychotherapist In this profession, specialists have very different directions. Some work more with relationships, some with children, some with teenagers, some with addicts, some with anxious people. For some this list is wider, for others it is narrower. If you understand well what is bothering you, then you can find a list of what he works with in the specialist’s public resources. If you haven’t found it or you don’t understand whether it’s about you or not, you can ask the question whether he’s doing what’s bothering you.🔶 Work experience matters. It's good to have it. It is difficult to say from what period it is sufficient; it depends on the specialist’s abilities and on the density of work during this period. But its duration does not indicate its success. For example: a specialist with extensive experience can be successful, wise, with good results, recognized and progressive. Or he may be a conservative, stuck in old views on psychology, tired of the profession and clients. And at the same time, a young specialist may be undertrained and have not undergone personal therapy, an upstart. Or turn out to be a talented practitioner, with good fresh knowledge, a lively mind, good empathy, fire in the eyes and a desire to work. And if he turns to a supervisor (which would be good for specialists with great experience to do, for freshness of perception), then this adds points to the fact that the specialist takes his work responsibly and has no illusions about his super-professionalism. You can draw your preliminary conclusions by watching a psychologist online, asking questions. And at the first meetings with him.🔶 Personal elaboration For a psychologist, psychotherapist, about 70 hours of personal therapy are required. This is an approximate amount, since in order to “clean up” a specialist, you may need less or, on the contrary, more, depending on what the person came into the profession with, what he collected during his childhood and life. But it is impossible for it not to exist at all. Because even what we don’t notice about ourselves and what seems insignificant can interfere with working with people, preventing us from seeing the client correctly and correctly conducting consultation and therapy. Here I will immediately say about realistic expectations. People are not ideal and do not become ideal even after 10 years of therapy. And there is not even a criterion for 100% development. In order for a specialist to be able to perform high-quality work, he must be able to.