How to choose an online psychologist: what to look for

None

Online therapy has stopped being a fallback and become a form of care as effective as being in the room — with the advantage of reaching those who live far away. With so much on offer, it is natural to want to understand what distinguishes good care. These are the criteria that matter.

1. Training and professional framework

Each discipline has its own framework, and it is worth knowing them. In Portugal, "psychologist" is a title protected by law: practitioners are registered with the Portuguese Psychologists Association and hold a professional licence, which guarantees proper training and a code of ethics binding them to confidentiality. Psychiatrists are registered with the Medical Association.

Hypnotherapy works differently: it has no separate professional body in Portugal. That does not make it less valid — clinical hypnosis has been used in healthcare settings for decades — but it means the criterion shifts: who runs the sessions, with what training, and within what clinical setting. Hypnotherapy led by a psychologist, within a team that includes psychology and psychiatry, is a different proposition from an isolated session with no prior assessment.

2. Confidentiality and clear terms

A good online session takes place on a secure platform, in a private space, with clear rules on confidentiality — exactly as an in-person appointment would. You should feel there is a professional framework: times, terms, and clarity about how everything works.

3. The therapeutic relationship counts more than anything

The research is clear: the factor that most predicts a therapy's success is not technique but the quality of the relationship between therapist and client. So the first session is also for you to assess: do I feel heard? At ease? Respected? Do I trust this person? You do not have to click with the first professional you meet — you have every right to keep looking until you find someone you feel safe with.

4. Realistic expectations

Mental health is a process, not a switch. Good care offers you concrete goals and a path with stages, not results guaranteed in advance. If you are told about defined numbers of sessions and an initial assessment before any plan, that is a sign they know what they are doing.

5. Signs of well-structured care

• A first contact without pressure, whose purpose is to understand your situation.
• Clarity about the training of whoever provides the care, the approach proposed and the terms.
• Respect for your pace and your decisions.
• A clear statement that, in a crisis or emergency, you should contact local emergency services.

At HICOA the team brings together psychologists registered with the Portuguese Psychologists Association, a hypnotherapist and a psychiatrist — so each case can be handled with the right approach, or a combination of them. Assessment always comes first, and the first conversation carries no obligation, so that you can judge whether it is the right path for you. In English or Portuguese, wherever you live.