Step-by-step guide: How to get a psychologist

Here, if you are trying to find a psychologist in Oslo, you will get help to orientate yourself, find the right offer and get started.

If you have already decided to try a private practice psychologist you can quickly and easily book an online appointment here:

 

For those of you who are still unsure, we give you a simple overview of all the options available for finding a psychologist in Oslo.

And how to proceed to obtain psychologist class in the various places.

This makes the process as simple as possible for you - and the chances of you choosing a recommended psychologist offer increase.

Below you will find a simple visual presentation of the various solutions to give you a quick overview.

The guide covers both choices between public and private psychologist, psychologist in central Oslo, and in the other districts, east as west.

In short, you have the choice between a public and private psychologist, but we will see that there are a total of 9 different ways to get in touch with a psychologist in Oslo.

Each of the offers, with advantages and disadvantages, is reviewed in detail later in the article.

Further in the article, we will consider the question of whether one should contact a psychologist in Oslo at all, what expectations one can have when going to a psychologist, which psychologist one should choose and how one finds a psychologist.

We also look at the choice between public and private psychologist, with and without referral.

We will also look at what a psychologist costs, the price for a psychologist and whether there are recommended psychologists and free psychologists in Oslo.

Psychologist offer Oslo - infographic

We begin with the summary of the 9 different ways to get in touch with a psychologist.

You can download the document as an interactive pdf if you scroll to the very bottom of the page. Then you can use the links to click straight into various info pages.

 

Before we move on to describe these various psychological services in more detail, we will look at some of the more emotional questions that often accompany a process of finding a psychologist.

If you would rather be better acquainted with Psykologvirke, you can read more about us here.

Should I see a psychologist?

In many people's lives, this word should probably occupy a large place. I guess we should rather concentrate on what we must and that we want. 

Seeking out another person for help is undoubtedly a healthy and constructive impulse. All people need help at times and seeing a psychologist is a rational attempt at coping.

At the same time, we can quickly be met by counter-forces on the inside, which will make it something else.

Here it is important not to choose from the fear that often drives inner repressive forces.

Examples of such forces can be self-doubt, belittling, shame, self-criticism and constant downgrading.

Rather, try to gather the courage needed to listen to the healthy desire inside to live better.

Everyone can benefit from going to a psychologist, but it is not the same as saying that everyone needs it.

Whether it will be something for you is strictly speaking only one way to find out.

 

We have never experienced that someone has regretted, although not everyone gets the same amount in return for it. The benefits vary, among other things, with how good cooperation the psychologist and the client manage to establish.

 

Trolls that crack in the light

The surest sign that you can benefit is if you think you should not take the place of someone else, or thoughts that you want to waste time with the therapist.

It is also a good idea if you are one of the many who are afraid of what one will find out about themselves!

Most of us are on one level or another.

The little trolls we may have in us have a wonderful tendency to burst in the light and life becomes easier when you no longer fear and avoid something in yourself. You can run – but you can't hide.

When apparently small problems are able to grow big inside, it is in the middle of the core business of psychologists and one of the things we can best help with.

Whether you are struggling with anxiety, depression, self-esteem, relationships with others, or completely different things, it may be worth a try.

Here you can read briefly about what you can, e.gorvente of a therapy with a psychologist at Psykologvirke.

You can read more about our psychologists and book an appointment here. 

What are the main types of psychological services available in Oslo?

Towards the end of the article, we will look in detail at a total of 9 ways to get in touch with a psychologist in Oslo.

Simplified, we can say that you are faced with two main options.

Option one is to make direct contact with a private psychologist in Oslo and get an appointment within a few days. You must then pay yourself or have expenses covered through private health insurance or via your employer.

Option two is to contact the GP and discuss which of the public offers you can qualify for and get a referral there.

Then you only pay deductibles, intake is not guaranteed, and you have to expect a waiting period of a few weeks/months.

You can also contact directly, without reference, at any other agencies that offer short-term offers to you with minor difficulties, more about the details in this below.

Here you can read even more in-depth about how therapy with a psychologist can help.

Should I choose a public or private psychologist?

This is a question of mainly three things: how long you can afford to wait, how much you are able to pay and whether you will be granted a public offer at all.

There are also some advantages and disadvantages linked to the framework of the various public offers which we will look at later in the article.

Price for private / privately practicing psychologist in Oslo

An analysis of the top 10 organic hits when searching for a psychologist Oslo on Google shows an average price for a private psychologist in Oslo of around NOK 1170 for an hour (45-50min) during the day.

If you want an appointment with a psychologist in the evening or at the weekend, you must expect the price to increase by a couple of hundred kroner.

Most also offer double lessons which are cheaper, in terms of cost per hour at least. Psychologists who offer intensive short-term psychodynamic therapy (ISTDP) often also offer block hours (3 clock hours).

This is an offer that is particularly suitable if you have a long journey or want to get started faster.

The total cost of course depends on how many hours you need. This is very individual and something you can ask your psychologist to consider during the very first meetings.

 

Award for public psychologist in Oslo

In any public offer, you pay deductibles for each hour (NOK 351 for single hours and NOK 527 for double hours) up to the free card limit, which for 2020 is NOK 2,460.

See here for further details on the exemption card scheme for treatment by a psychologist.

Psychological help in Oslo: Nine options

Below, we will go into more detail and describe a total of eight different alternative ways in which you can get in touch with a psychologist in Oslo.

We will look at the admission criteria as well as the advantages and disadvantages of the various offers so that you can find the right option for you and move forward in the process.

 

Psychologist in Oslo option 1: Private psychologist without appointment

Here you basically have to cover the costs yourself. The exception is if you have health insurance that covers the treatment, or if your employer may be willing to invest.

The advantages are, among other things, that the availability is high and the waiting time is short. If you apply for a private psychologist in Oslo, you get an hour a day or at least within a couple of days.

You simply search on Google and make an online booking, call or send an email to the providers. You can count on getting an answer immediately or within a few hours. You do not need a referral from a doctor.

Other advantages are that you are free to arrange longer sessions such as double sessions, that the treatment does not have an upper limit for the number of hours and you can arrange sessions as often or as seldom as you wish.

You are also free to choose a psychologist yourself, and easily switch if it does not work. This is not always the case with public tenders. With a private psychologist, it is also easy to get an appointment evening.

 

If you choose to go for this option, you can book an appointment online in two minutes here:

 

Here you can see a short video about what it is like to go to a psychologist at Psykologvirke.

https://youtu.be/FtRRYZTyJCI

 

Private psychologist in Oslo option 2: Contract specialists

The other main form is psychologists who organize themselves privately, but who have an agreement with the public sector (so-called reimbursement scheme or operating subsidy).

These psychologists are often called contract specialists.

The advantages are that you only pay deductibles up to the exemption card limit. All of the psychologists in Oslo with such an agreement also have extensive experience.

The disadvantage is that there are few providers and some long waiting lists. Some also find it challenging to make contact.

First you need a referral from your GP. Talk to your GP about whether the so-called "cluster scheme" works. 

This is a scheme where some contract specialists are linked in particular to the various GP offices, precisely to increase accessibility, but this does not work equally well in all places.

Therefore, it is recommended that you call the hospital selection office on telephone 800 41 004. Here they have updated information about the waiting time of the various appointment specialists.

Then you can start from a shorter list of psychologists in Oslo who have relatively shorter waiting times and get in touch. 

Be prepared that most people have limited phone time.

Most people want you to write a few words about what you want help with. Feel free to send a standard letter on a maximum of one A4 page to 10 people at the same time, as it may take time to get a reply.

Also be prepared that you will not get an answer from many of them at all. Unfortunately, it is quite common and you must not think that it is about the content of your particular letter.

If you want to get in touch with a contract specialist in Oslo, you can use the following link  psychologists in Oslo with operating agreement 

The contract specialists otherwise have the same advantages as private psychologists with few framework restrictions on the duration and frequency of treatment.

Here you can also arrange longer sessions if desired.

Psychologist in Oslo option 3: Referral to public mental health care / ordinary DPS

This offer involves referral from the GP to various District Psychiatric Centers (DPS) in the districts.

The intake office at DPS assesses the content of the referral against a number of criteria to determine whether you are entitled to mental health care. The most serious cases are given priority. Where the list is located depends on the district.

Within 30 days after the referral has been sent, you must be informed whether you have been accepted and how long the waiting period is.

This varies between 6 and 20 weeks, with 12 weeks being the most common. You can check the stated waiting times at various DPS in Oslo and the surrounding area here:

http://www.frittsykehusvalg.no/start/

DPS is organized in interdisciplinary teams consisting of psychologist / psychologist specialist, psychiatrist, doctor in specialization, psychiatric nurse and (clinical) sociologist.

Your therapist may therefore have a very different professional background.

The most important thing for treatment outcomes is the quality of the relationship and collaboration between you and your therapist, regardless of professional background.

It can still be good to be aware that you are not necessarily assigned a psychologist who treats at DPS.

Psychologist in Oslo option 4: Referral to "get back faster" clinic

This is a psychologist offer with a lower threshold for intake than ordinary DPS.

To qualify for admission, you must either be on sick leave due to mental health problems or the GP must assess that there is a risk of sick leave.

The sick leave must have lasted for less than a year. As you transfer to work clearance allowance after one year of sick leave, you are no longer in the target group.

Psychologist through faster return scheme has varying waiting time, but around 8 weeks can be a pointer.

Treaters at the outpatient clinics in Oslo sooner are mostly psychologists and psychologist specialists.

Some clinics have framework limitations of up to a maximum of 7 hours with a specific form of treatment, while other clinics have freer frameworks.

Psychologist in Oslo option five: Referral to 3rd line services.

This is not really something you need to consider if you are at the beginning of a search process.

But if you have been a round or two in the treatment apparatus, it can be good to know that there are so-called 3rd line services.

The GP is considered first line, and the public services mentioned above are considered second line services.

Third-line services are even more specialized devices. There are separate clinics for, for example, trauma disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders and relationship difficulties.

If you have not received the desired treatment result in the second-line service, you can discuss referral to even more specialized units for your particular disorder with your therapist or GP.

Psychologist in Oslo option six: Student health service or company health service

If you are a student in Oslo and need a psychologist, you usually have access to mental health services through the Students' Association. Here you only pay deductibles.

Several companies also have their own company health service with the option of a free psychologist in Oslo.

Psychologist in Oslo alternative seven: Family welfare office

Various professional groups, including psychologists, work at the family protection offices.

The Family Welfare Service is a free offer from the Children, Youth and Family Agency for therapy, counseling and guidance when there are difficulties, conflicts or crises in the relationship or the family.

Bufetat's family protection offices are state-owned, but there are also church family protection offices that are part of the public service.

The waiting time varies, but you should expect a waiting time of a few weeks. You can make contact as an individual if you experience family-related problems, but you cannot expect to receive regular individual conversations here.

Here is a complete overview of family welfare office with a free psychologist in Oslo. Here you can specifically seek out the church's family protection office. 

The Center for Job Mastery is an offer under the auspices of NAV, for people with mild to moderate anxiety and / or depressive disorders that prevent work participation. The goal is to master the ailments, get to work as quickly as possible and master the job over time. The offer applies to both those who are without an employment relationship and those who have an employment relationship they are unable or unwilling to return to

Psychologist in Oslo alternative 8 – Center for job management

Here, work-oriented cognitive therapy is provided by psychologists and other personnel with health / social work education, who have further education in cognitive therapy.

In addition, individual job support is provided by so-called job specialists. These are personnel in NAV with good knowledge of career guidance and the local labor market. The offer is free.

 

Psychologist in Oslo alternative 9: Emergency offers

In the event of an acute crisis, you can call the emergency room at Storgaten 40 on 22932293 or contact the emergency unit at DPS in your district.

You do not need a referral, only pay a deductible and the waiting time is short (for many under an hour). For contact information and details of psychiatric emergency room use this link.

Here is information about the emergency teams sorted by district affiliation:

Bjerke, Sagene and Nordre Aker: DPS Nydalen, OUS:
The emergency unit: Gullhaugveien 12 in Nydalen, tel. 23023300

Old Oslo, Grunerløkka and St. Hanshaugen: Lovisenberg DPS, Lovisenberg hospital: Emergency team: Hagegata 32, 1st floor (Tøyen torg) Tel: 24074500.

Frogner, Vestre Aker and Ullern: Vinderen DPS, Diakonhjemmet: Emergency team: Forskningsveien 7, tel. 22498474.

Østensjø, Nordstrand and Søndre Nordstrand: DPS Søndre Oslo, OUS: Emergency department: Helga Vaneks vei 6,1281 Oslo, phone 99216529 / 23023000

Alna, Grorud and Nittedal municipality: DPS Groruddalen, AHUS
Emergency team: Jerikoveien 28 b, tel. 23141955.

Which psychologist should I choose?

It is difficult to give a clear answer to this. It is almost impossible to know in advance who will be a good psychologist for you.

It really depends on the relationship and the collaboration you manage to establish, so feel it and try to take responsibility for your part of the relationship - neither more nor less.

Basically, any psychologist can treat most mental disorders. Of course, this does not mean that everyone is equally good at everything.

Psychologists are different as human beings and work with very different methods. If you do not get the desired result from a psychologist, you can get very good help from another.

You can read on the website, but often you simply have to meet the person in question and test a collaboration before you find out if it is correct.

Not infrequently, some of the same problems you experience in other relationships can also manifest themselves in the relationship with the psychologist.

For example, trust issues or different assumptions about what the psychologist might think or feel about you.

In such cases, we recommend that you take it up with the psychologist. Often it can be very fruitful to work through such repetitions of old things.

If you do not experience getting anything out of contact during the first five hours, you should discuss it with the psychologist, go for a walk with yourself, and if nothing comes out of it strongly consider switching.

If you are considering the helprivate option, you can read a little more about Psychology work here.

Here you can read more about how to book psychologist class at Psykologvirke.

Recommended psychologist Oslo?

If you are looking for a recommended psychologist in Oslo, it is not quite that simple. Recommended.no was acquired by Gulesider.no and the opportunity to post reviews anonymously disappeared.

This significantly limits the value of the service. Some psychologist sites publish testimonies from previous patients, but this will also have limited value in that such publication will be selective.  

Perhaps the best thing is therefore if you can get recommendations from someone you know or trust. You can also ask your GP about his or her recommended psychologists.

Ultimately, you almost only have to test a collaboration to find out if the psychologist can be good for you.

Last but not least

All people deserve freedom, love, joy and good health. Good luck with the nice project you have going on.

If we can contribute, we are happy to do so. We present ourselves as whole people and the best of professional knowledge. Welcome you shall be.

 

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