
Find a Psychiatrist
It’s not as easy as you might think, to find a psychiatrist that you connect with, that makes you feel heard and safe. There are so many different services and psychiatrists to choose from – how does one choose their psychiatrists? We are surprised by how many people find us through a google search! We hope that they find us to be the right fit, but we believe that finding the right psychiatrist requires thought and planning, as it could be a very important decision in your life.
How to Find a Psychiatrist in the First Place
- There are a number of avenues to search for the right psychiatrist for you. An excellent place to start is via the website of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists. They have a “Find a Psychiatrist” page that allows you to search for a psychiatrist by your suburb as well as your diagnosis. Please be mindful that for many telehealth services, like our service at Acumen Psychiatry, the suburb/location listed won’t be an accurate reflection of the suburbs serviced. For instance, we service patients all over Australia, but list our practice address as being in Melbourne.
- Another excellent way to find a psychiatrist is via word of mouth. Please bear in mind that finding a psychiatrist is a very personal matter – just because your friend thinks their psychiatrist is ‘amazing’, does not necessarily mean that you will. However, word of mouth helps, as good psychiatrists tend to build up a good reputation with colleagues and patients.
- Review their websites. You may get a good indication of the psychiatrist’s level of experience as well as the way in which they work with patients, if they have a detailed “bio” on their page. It is always helpful if your psychiatrist has trained somewhere with a good reputation, or has worked in reputable hospitals. However, bear in mind that just because the psychiatrist is ‘renowned Professor so-and-so’ does not necessarily mean they are that great with patients! Plaques on a wall and lots of publications mean they are good at research – this does not always translate to excellent patient care.
- Be clear about the goals of your treatment and what kind of psychiatrist you are looking for. For instance, some psychiatrists provide ongoing care whereas others specialise in comprehensive ‘one-off’ assessments for patients, in order to guide their GP in managing their care. Some psychiatrists are very confident with prescribing medications and others are more confident providing psychotherapy (ideally it would be good to find someone who has experience at both!). Can you afford private fees or do you need a bulk-billing psychiatrist? Be clear about the goals for your sessions and you will gain a lot more out of your time with the psychiatrist.
- You can consider calling the intake lines for private clinics. They can sometimes refer you to their private psychiatrists who are taking on outpatients.
What to Watch For When You Do Find a Psychiatrist
So you have now found the right psychiatrist and you are at your first appointment. How can you tell if they are the right ‘fit’ for you? Whilst this is a very individual thing, there are some basic principles:
- At Acumen Psychiatry, we think empathy is vital to excellent patient care. Please ensure that whoever you see treats you with care and the dignity you deserve, and remains compassionate to what you have been carrying.
- It is important that your doctor does not feel ‘threatened’ if you have questions or are unsure about the treatment plan they propose. A good doctor would encourage such dialogue and aim to work collaboratively with you to achieve the best outcome.
- You want your psychiatrist to be respectful about their colleagues (this includes GPs they work with).
- Your psychiatrist should readily be able to answer any questions you may have about their level of experience.
- Your psychiatrist should demonstrate that they are comfortable with the medications you might be taking and that there is a degree of confidence in optimising medication doses or suggesting medication changes.
- Generally you should not feel rushed during the interview; although the psychiatrists may sometimes gently redirect or interrupt you, to get the best information out of you so that they can be of most assistance to you during the time you have.
- You should feel safe and comfortable; and never feel pushed into talking about anything that you don’t feel ready to discuss.
- A sense of humour sometimes helps some patients feel at ease. Not essential for a psychiatrist to have but sometimes helps!
- Your psychiatrist should collaborate effectively and efficiently with other treatment providers in your life. For instance, a good psychiatrist will write timely letters back to your GP.
We know it can feel daunting to see a psychiatrist at all, let alone find a psychiatrist. However, find the right person can be a really positive step in ‘insuring’ your mental health for the future. If you have any questions or need a bit of guidance, please feel free to contact us at Acumen Psychiatry. Our lovely practice manager will always try to point you in the right direction!

