Therapy can be a powerful tool for personal growth and healing. Research has shown over and over that therapy is one of the most effective interventions for addressing mental health. However, finding the right therapist is essential for a successful therapeutic experience. Choosing a therapist is a personal decision, and what works for one person may not work for another.
In this blog post, we will discuss some tips for choosing the right therapist for you.
Understanding Your Needs and Preferences
Before you start your search for a therapist, it’s important to understand your needs and preferences. Consider the following questions:
- What are your goals for therapy? Are you looking for help with a specific issue? Most therapists are trained to work with the most common mental health struggles such as stress, anxiety and depression. Some struggles, like PTSD, major mood volatility, or autistic spectrum disorders require some specialized training and experience. Seek out a therapist that lists these as an area of specialty.
- What type of therapy do you think would be a good fit for you? If you’ve been researching therapy, you’ve probably learned that there are many different types of therapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT). Each type of therapy has its own strengths and weaknesses, but the research shows that these differences aren’t the best predictors of success. Your relationship with your therapist will be your best predictor. However, if you find there’s an approach that piques your interest or you’ve had a good experience with an approach in the past, don’t hesitate to look for someone who practices in that way. This can be an important part of fit!
- What are your personal preferences? Do you prefer a male or female therapist? Do you want someone who is older or younger? Do you want someone who is more traditional or more eclectic in their approach? Try to tune into what you really want and don’t be afraid to ask for it.
Once you have a good understanding of your needs and preferences, you can start to narrow down your search for a therapist.
Considering the Therapist’s Qualifications and Experience
When choosing a therapist, it’s important to consider some basic qualifications and experience. Here are a few things to look for:
- Education: Therapists should have a master’s degree or doctorate in psychology, social work, or another mental health field.
- Licensure: Therapists should be licensed in the state where they practice. This ensures that they have met the state’s requirements for education, training, and experience.
- Experience: It’s a good idea to choose a therapist who has experience working with people who have similar concerns to yours.
- Specialties: Some therapists specialize in certain areas. If you have a specific concern, it may be helpful to choose a therapist who specializes in that area.
What Makes a Good Therapist?
Although you want a basic level of education and experience in a therapist, the research on what makes a good one is actually somewhat surprising. The following are some qualities of therapists who will give you the best chance of healing:
- Empathy: A good therapist is able to tune into what you’re feeling and understand the problems you’re describing.
- Ability to Express: A good therapist finds a way to take in the struggles you’re describing and can talk about them and offer insight. The work of a therapist is often to be an interpreter, taking the thoughts and feelings you express in an unfiltered way and giving you a new understanding or a path forward. It’s helpful to have a therapist who can put things into words you can use.
- Ability to Repair: A good therapist is always tracking how things are going between you and them. They try to notice if a comment doesn’t land quite right. They’re curious about how you’re feeling about the work you’re doing. They’re more than willing to listen and accommodate when you bring up something that isn’t working for you and they work with you to find a way forward. Sometimes, even good therapists aren’t a match. But the good ones try to understand the therapy from your point of view and help you find something that will work for you.
Practical Arrangements When Finding a Therapist
Although the therapeutic relationship is your best predictor of success, it’s important to take a few practical considerations into account:
- The cost of therapy: The cost of therapy varies depending on the therapist’s experience, location, and the type of therapy they provide. Therapy doesn’t usually work as a one-time intervention. It’s important to know the costs to make sure you can commit to a process that can take some time.
- Insurance: Health insurance can be a great way to make the costs of therapy more manageable. If you plan to work with health insurance, be sure you understand your costs and try to find someone who takes your insurance or is willing to help with out of network billing.
- In-Person or Virtual: Most therapists and therapy patients will tell you that in-person is preferrable. But if virtual sessions are important to you, make sure to find a reputable practice that offers telehealth. If possible, steer clear of large online virtual therapy platforms. Look instead for established local practices. These tend to pay their therapists better, offer group consultation and invest more in establishing quality of care. The result is a better chance of finding a therapist who will stay for the long term and offer you their best.
Scheduling Consultations with a Few Therapists
Once you’ve narrowed down your search, it’s a good idea to schedule a consultation. This will give you a chance to meet with your therapist and see if you feel comfortable with them.
During your consultations, you should ask the therapist questions about their approach. You should also be prepared to share your concerns and goals with the therapist. Although your first session is often spent filling your therapist in on all the background information, you should leave the session feeling they have a good understanding of your problem. They should also be able to give you a basic plan for addressing your concerns that makes sense to you.
Tips for Making It Work With a Therapist
Here are a few additional tips for making therapy work for you, no matter what therapist you choose:
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions. It’s important to feel comfortable asking your therapist any questions you have, no matter how big or small.
- Be patient. It can take some time to find the right therapist. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t click with the first therapist you meet or if it takes some time to get completely on the same page.
- Be open to change. Therapy is a process, and it’s important to be open to change and growth.
- Speak Up: If something isn’t working for you, don’t hesitate to speak up. A good therapist may be intuitive, but that doesn’t mean they read minds! Speaking up about how you feel is great practice for the real world and, with the right therapist, can often lead to some of the best discussions you can have in therapy.
Additional Resources
Here are some resources that can help you find a therapist:
- The American Psychological Association (APA)
- The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
- Psychology Today
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At The Counseling Center, we have put in every effort to find the best and most talented therapists we can and to establish a culture of continual improvement. We work to hire people that listen and we work together to refine our approach to therapy. If you’re ready to start, feel free to explore our therapists or click here to book an appointment.
Article by: Jon Ahern, Ph.D.