Beginning therapy can be an exciting and anxious time for many people. Finding the right therapist is one of the most crucial aspects and sometimes the most stressful part for a successful therapeutic journey. This blog post will guide you through the process of choosing a therapist that aligns with your needs and preferences. Although it’s not an exhaustive list, below are a few things to consider while on your search. Let’s get you started!
- Exploring Therapy Orientations and Specializations
- Therapy orientations are theoretical frameworks that guide a therapist’s approach. Familiarize yourself with some common therapy orientations, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, humanistic therapy, and others. Understanding these orientations will help you identify the approach that resonates with you and your goals.
- You may not care how your therapist conceptualizes or provides interventions for you to meet your goals, in which case you may be more interested in searching for a clinician that specializes in what you currently are experiencing. Many effective therapists will honestly claim they are not a jack-of-all-trades and will identify what they have the greatest interest and experience in. You may find clinicians that focus on anxiety, substance abuse, marital conflict, trauma, play therapy, etc.
- Evaluating Therapist Credentials
- Credentials can play a significant role in assessing a therapist’s qualifications and expertise. While a wide range of professionals can offer therapy you may want to match a clinician with the types of needs you are looking for. There are psychologists who have received a doctorate in clinical training in various specializations and can provide therapy and evaluations or assessments. There are master level clinicians such as licensed professional counselors (LPCs), licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs), licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs), etc. who can provide therapy. Lastly, there are psychiatrists who are medical doctors that can provide assessment and prescribe medications. Some psychiatrists will also provide regular therapy services based on their orientation.
- Regardless of the clinician you chose, you can verify their credentials and any current legal complaints through reliable sources like professional licensing boards or online directories. A few are listed below.
- Psychology – Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB)
- Social work – Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
- Professional counseling – American Counseling Association (ACA)
- Substance use counseling – Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC)
- Marriage and family therapy – Association of Marital & Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB)
- Psychiatry – Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB)
- Seeking Referrals
- Obtaining referrals from trusted sources can simplify the process of finding a suitable therapist but are not always needed. You may find comfort in seeking recommendations from your primary care physician, friends, family, or other healthcare professionals. Online therapist directories and mental health helplines can also provide valuable resources for finding therapists in your area. One popular site is www.psychologytoday.com where you can search through providers in your area and match with those whose profiles seem to fit your needs.
- Understanding the Cost Factors
- Therapy costs can vary depending on several factors, including location, therapist experience, session duration, and your insurance coverage. Inquire about the therapist’s fees during the initial contact, and check if they accept your insurance or offer sliding-scale fees based on income. While many providers no longer accept insurance due to low reimbursement rates, your insurance may reimburse you for any out-of-network coverage and it may be worth a preliminary call to your insurance company to inquire about such coverage.
- The Importance of Trial and Error
- Research indicates that a good therapist-client match greatly influences therapy outcomes and may be one of the most important characteristics in determining success. Recognize that finding the right therapist may involve trial and error. Don’t be discouraged if the first therapist you try isn’t the perfect fit. Be open to exploring different options until you find someone who makes you feel comfortable and understood.
- What to Expect in Your First Therapy Session
- The initial therapy session often involves gathering information about your history, struggles, and goals. It may feel more like an interview as the therapist seeks to understand your unique circumstances. This session also serves as an opportunity to build rapport and establish a trusting relationship. By the end of the session, you and the therapist should begin developing a game plan or identifying specific goals to work on in future sessions. Don’t be shy about bringing any questions you want to be answered during that first session or questions about the therapy process!
Beginning therapy can be an exciting and anxious time for many people. Finding the right therapist is one of the most crucial aspects and sometimes the most stressful part for a successful therapeutic journey. This blog post will guide you through the process of choosing a therapist that aligns with your needs and preferences. Although it’s not an exhaustive list, below are a few things to consider while on your search. Let’s get you started!
You may want to follow up your first appointment by asking yourself a few questions to determine if this will be the right fit for you.
- Did you feel listened to?
- Did you feel that the clinician understood you and was non-judgmental?
- Can you see yourself being honest with this person?
- Did you feel they cared about you?
- Could they answer your questions and seem knowledgeable about the material you spoke about?
What are some Red Flags to watch out for in your process?
- You may want to avoid clinicians that say they specialize in everything. While therapists should be well-versed enough to dabble in various topics, nobody can be specialized in a laundry list of areas.
- Anyone identifying “quick fixes”. Mental health difficulties are typically rooted in a significant progression and cannot be changed overnight. While techniques can greatly reduce symptoms, “fixing” is often a red flag.
- Watch out for inappropriate boundaries. Your clinician is a professional and should not be sharing all of their own personal information with you, acting like your best friend, talking regularly outside of sessions, or asking you to meet anywhere outside of a professional setting (unless completing in-vivo exposures or practices such as in-home parent training, social exposures in a crowded space, etc. )
The last caveat is that therapy is about you exploring yourself, taking time to understand yourself, and making improvements that you’d like to see in your day-to-day life. Often, we live in such a fast-paced world that sitting down and taking time for yourself is difficult and therapy helps you niche out time during your week to take care of YOU! While we focus on various types of clinicians there also doesn’t have to be anything specifically “wrong” or a diagnosable mental health disorder in order to reap the benefits of emotional self-care and therapy. So, go forth and embrace the journey of finding a therapist who empowers you to achieve your goals and supports your overall well-being, and look forward to the new and improved YOU!
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