Hi. I am a 24 male searching for a psychologist from a long list provided by my insurance company and am having a difficult time selecting one. My current situation is I'm facing 4 months in county jail time, which is making me have anxiety. I have fallen into a depression. Also I believe I might struggle with substance abuse. I was recently violated on Probation for two "dirty test", which I think the court will add onto my 4 months. There are also things in my childhood I have never spoke of.

I know that is a lot of stuff on my plate, but I'm not sure which "key words"/Area of Experience to select from on my provider list. And is it crucial for them to be Board Certified?

THESE ARE EXAMPLES OF AREA OF EXPERIENCE: ADD/ADHD, Anxiety and Panic Disorders, Autism/PDD/Asperger's, Bariatric Surgery, Behavior Modification, Bipolar, Chemical Dependency, Chemical Dependency Assessment, Depressive Disorders, Eating Disorders, Medication Management, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Personality Disorders, Postpartum Issues, Schizophrenia/Schizoaffective Disorder, Sexual Abuse

It really depends on what you wish to accomplish. Most psychologists/clinical therapists can easily handle whatever you bring to the table. Just because one has a specialty does not mean they are not capable. If you wished to get one with a specialty, sounds like depressive disorders is up your alley.

And remember... if you believe you need medication, you are going to need a psychiatrist, not a psychologist.

Edited to add: my opinion is that yes, it is crucial that they are board certified.