Because every office is different, you must find the right match for you and your needs. This is a great article about tips on finding the right therapist for you.
Demystifying Therapy: 5 Insider Tips for Finding a Good Therapist
Daniela Tempesta, LCSW
Psychotherapist, danielalcsw.com
It's a new year, you've set new goals, and you've decided it's time
to go to therapy. Now what? Entering "find therapist" into your google
search window is not going to help. There are a lot of therapists out
there, but finding the right one for you can be as daunting as trying to
find a good date online.
After more than 15 years of seeing a variety of therapists myself,
I've had my share of bad experiences. I once met with a therapist who
greeted me at the door dripping sweat and dressed like Run-D.M.C. (sans
gold chain), straight from the gym. And while I don't think a
therapist's outfit is a reflection of competence, I do appreciate a
person who cools down first and dresses in a professional manner. And
then there was the woman whose first question was "So, what's wrong with
you?" Not exactly the best way to create a sense of safety.
But don't let me scare you off, I've also had amazing, life-altering,
not-sure-what-I-would've-done-without-'em therapists. So even if it
sounds like you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your
"theraprince," the result is de
1) Ask People You Trust For Recommendations
Asking people you trust for recommendations is a great place to start.
This could be a friend, family member, coworker or other health
professional. If someone you trust can make a referral, this can act as a
prescreening process. If you have a friend or family member who is a
therapist, they would also be a good person to ask as well. Therapists
tend to have good information about other reputable people.
2) Pick a Specialist if Necessary
Think about why you are seeking help and if necessary, find someone who
specializes in treating your particular issue. If you are struggling
with something very specific like OCD, ADHD, addiction or an eating
disorder, it is very important that you see someone who specializes in
the treatment of these disorders. There are
evidence-based protocols
which are used specifically to successfully treat issues like those
listed above. If you are seeing someone who doesn't have specific
training in your issues, you might be wasting your time and money. Also,
someone who claims to be an expert in everything is likely an expert in
nothing. The field of mental health is just too broad for any of us to
be experts in all issues, so beware of someone who claims such things.
3) Use the Web, But Don't Be Limited By It
The web is a great resource for locating and learning more about local therapists.
Psychology Today has a comprehensive listing of therapists and allows you to search based on several different factors. To be listed on
Psychology Today,
therapists must prove that they have an advanced degree and up-to-date
professional license. You can read profiles or click through to
individual therapist websites. If you are immediately turned off by
someone's tone, listen to your gut and keep searching. Just make sure
you are looking in industry-appropriate locations. For example, Yelp is
great for restaurants, but the same principle doesn't apply to therapy.
Finding a good therapist is a lot more nuanced than finding out which
restaurant makes the best duck-fat fried Brussels sprouts.
4) Interview People Who Might Seem Like a Good Fit
Once you've narrowed down your list of potentials, give them a call. Get
a feel for what they are like on the phone. Do you feel comfortable
talking with them? Do they seem interested and empathetic? In addition,
you might ask the following questions:
A) What is your style like?
This is important. Even if someone is a very skilled therapist, his or
her style may not jive with yours. Try to get a feel for what it would
be like to be in the room with the person. Are they active and engaged
or will you be doing most of the majority of talking? Will they be
giving you homework or will all the "work" happen in the sessions
themselves?
B) Do you have experience working with my issue? If we were working together on this issue what can I expect?
You want to make sure that the therapist has familiarity and is comfortable working with the issue that brought you to therapy.
C) What is your theoretical orientation?
There are many different schools of thought in psychology and each
therapist approaches problems differently based on their training and
theoretical orientation. For example, a psychodynamic therapist might
focus on childhood history, dreams and the unconscious roots of your
behavior, while a cognitive behavioral therapist will help you identify
problematic thoughts and help you shift those thoughts and their
resulting behaviors. There are many different ways to approach the same
issue, and while you may have no idea specifically what style you want
or need, make sure that what the therapist is proposing is something
that sounds aligned to your personality and needs.
5) The Relationship Is More Important Than the Resume
Don't be overly focused on finding someone with long list of
accomplishments. Just because a therapist has written several books or
has a busy public speaking schedule, it doesn't mean that they are the
right fit for you.
Research
has found that the most effective therapists build strong therapeutic
relationships with their clients and have highly developed interpersonal
skills including warmth, acceptance, empathy and the ability to
accurately identify how a client is feeling. So give more weight to how
you feel in the room with the therapist, rather than their list of
accomplishments.
Now that you are armed with strategies for finding a great fit I wish
you the best of luck in your search. I hope you find the therapeutic
experience as rewarding and life altering as I have. Happy therapist
hunting!
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