So, you think it's time to begin seeing a therapist but you don't know where to start? Finding the right therapist to meet your needs can feel overwhelming but if you're reading this...you'll know some of the necessary things to consider when choosing which therapist might be the right fit for you!
I'm going to break down the process into a few steps to make things simple.
You realize it's time to see a therapist for professional support
Having a healthy support network is definitely worth its weight in gold but often times our friends and family's well-meaning advice and suggestions can be biased and not always helpful. You might realize it's time to see a therapist when you've tried everything you can think of to get some relief from your presenting problem but everything you've tried leaves you feeling more exhausted, discouraged and frustrated. Your coping skills just aren't working and you're tired of feeling tired.
Clarify your goals
In finding the right therapist to meet your needs, it's important that you have a sense of what you'd like to focus on in your therapy. This is important because different therapists specialize in treating different issues or approaches to therapy. You want to find a therapist that's passionate about the issues and clients they work with and has training and experience in working with that population
Clarify the therapeutic approach you prefer
Okay, I know this may seem a bit confusing if you've never been in therapy before. Every therapist has an approach, a style and a special energy and focus they bring to the work that they do. You want to find someone who energetically fits with you. What I mean by this is you want to find a therapist whose approach and style feel supportive so that you can do the work you need to do in a way that feels safe, comfortable and supportive. For example, some therapists are solution focused therapists and work with client to find solutions to their problems. These therapists typically only see clients for 5-10 sessions. However, if you're the kind of client that wants to focus on doing the deeper therapeutic work and how your beliefs and spirituality play a role in therapy, you'll want to find a therapist that is passionate about focusing on deeper level transformation and healing, not just addressing the symptoms of a problem.
Counseling is an Investment
I've included this because I think it's important for people to have realistic expectations about the therapeutic process. Again, your goals may influence what kind of an investment you'll be making into the therapeutic process. By investment, I mean, both time and money. Yes, I said it, money. For some clients who want to get to the core of an issue rather than just learning to deal with the symptoms, it's important to realize that it may take more than 5 sessions to resolve your issues and find the happiness you're looking for in your life. Therapy is the type of relationship that builds momentum with time, and committing to the process can helps yield more powerful change.
Research
Do your homework. Ask around. I mean it, ask friends or family who they've seen in the past. Sometimes, the best way to find a good therapist is to have a friend refer you to the therapist they work with regularly. If you're uncomfortable with asking around, get online or call your insurance company for options. Please...hear me out on this one! Don't just schedule with the first therapist recommended by your insurance company. Insurance companies don't necessarily refer you to a therapist because they're good at what they do, they refer you because you've called and asked for names of providers in their network. It's important you do your own research on that person to determine if they have good reviews, meet your needs and have experience with your goals. There are independent sites like Healthgrades.com that you can use to review your provider. Also, I think this next item is important too. Talk to the provider if possible!!! If you call an office and you talk with the receptionist, please ask to speak to the provider. I'm biased on this one but I believe any provider who cares about what they do, and who they work with, will take the time to answer questions with potential clients up front. This is one of the reasons I offer free 15-minute consultations to all new clients if they want one. It gives both the therapist and the client an opportunity to feel each other out to make sure we're both a good fit to work with each other.
Here's a few questions to consider asking your potential therapist:
What are your available hours?
What is your experience in working with these issues?
Who is your ideal client?
What are your fees and insurance panel status?
Do you provide emergency services?
How long will therapy last and how will we know when it's time to stop?
Try em out: What does your intuition say?
Not every therapist will agree with me on this one but I think it's important to meet with your therapist in person to see if the energy and connection with them feels right for you. Phone calls can be misleading and I think it's important to sit in a therapist's office, feel them out and get a sense of them in person. This is your healing process and you don't want to enter that journey with someone that doesn't feel like the right fit.
I hope this helps give you a little direction and guidance on some of the steps to take when looking for a therapist. If you have more questions, please reach out to me and I'd be happy to schedule a 15-minute consult with you to evaluate if we're a good fit to work together!