Are you looking to find the right therapist for you? Your reasons for seeking therapy could be various. Some people seek assistance to manage depression, anxiety or other more complex mental health conditions. Other people access therapy to deal with a traumatic event, or grief or loss of a loved one. For others still, therapy is a tool to manage overeating, smoking, drinking or illicit substance use. Whatever the reason that you’re looking for a therapist, finding the right one is essential. As the therapist will be responsible for your mental health and well-being, having a good match is essential. This helpful article is going to share everything you need to know about finding a therapist that suits your needs and wants.
How to find the right therapist for you? 7 keys to not make mistakes
1. Ensure they’re qualified
There are a few different paths to becoming a qualified therapist. Some therapists undertake an online degree in social work and then do a postgraduate qualification to become a therapist. Others will study psychology, psychotherapy or counseling. No one pathway is more valid than another, but you should definitely ascertain if the therapist you book in with has a legitimate qualification. They should display it on their wall or be able to produce evidence of their credentials if you ask.
This is important because some unqualified fly-by-nighters will pass themselves off as therapists, counselors or “life coaches” without having adequate training or qualifications to manage patients’ mental health and well-being effectively. By asking this question, you’re ensuring you’ll get the best possible therapy from your professional.
2. Look at their specialization and experience
There are different mental disorders and problems, as well as psychotherapeutic approaches, so the ideal is that you look for a professional profile that can adequately deal with your situation. For example, if you need help for your school-age child, try to choose a therapist specialized in child and adolescent psychotherapy and not just in adult patients. On the other hand, if you have problems in your marriage, look for a couples therapist.
If you are autistic, have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or Tourette’s or another neurodiverse condition, ask the therapist if they are neuro-inclusive or use neuro-affirming practices. Not all mental health professionals are inclusive, affirming or accepting of neurodiversity, sadly.
And don’t forget to value their professional experience because there is a big difference between a therapeutic career of more than a decade and one of just two years. Psychology is not learned only in classrooms. Studies have revealed that more experienced therapists achieve better therapeutic adherence in their patients and obtain better results in some types of disorders. Without a doubt, experience is key to establishing the relationship, building trust, choosing the right techniques and providing more effective treatment.
3. How often can you see them?
The next thing to consider is how often you can have an appointment. Some therapists are busy with a full caseload and may only be able to offer a monthly appointment or fortnightly at the most. This might not suit your mental health needs, particularly if you’re experiencing serious issues or have experienced something traumatic and need immediate and frequent support.
You may prefer a weekly appointment, and if so, you need to gauge if the therapist can offer that. Ask about appointment frequency during the intake and assessment process to ensure it fits your unique circumstances and needs appropriately.
Remember that, according to research carried out at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, most patients usually show notable improvement between the seventh and tenth session. However, 1 in 9 people have to undergo more than 20 Psychology sessions to resolve their problems. Therefore, it is important that you also talk to your therapist about the number of psychological sessions necessary.
4. What type of therapy do they offer?
When investigating potential therapists, it’s worth finding out about the sorts of therapies that they offer. Most therapists will work within several different therapeutic modalities, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) or psychodynamic psychotherapy. Some may even offer art or music therapy. Different types of therapy have advantages and disadvantages and they vary depending on the duration, their approach and the methods and techniques they use.
For instance, CBT is excellent for changing problematic behaviours such as overspending, overeating, substance abuse and anxiety disorders. DBT is backed by evidence to treat personality disorders such as borderline, and ACT can be excellent for managing grief or trauma. Find out how the therapist works and consider if it’s right for your needs.
5. Can you trust them?
Another question to consider is if you can see yourself trusting the therapist. You might not get a sense of this until a few sessions, but it’s essential to figure it out. If you’re seeing a therapist to unpack trauma, abuse or grief, you’ll be sharing some deep, dark issues with them. A relationship based on trust is essential.
Of course, trust is something that is built as the therapeutic relationship progresses, but it is essential that from the beginning you feel a connection that encourages you to open up or perceive that you are not judged, so that you can feel comfortable enough to talk about your problems later. If you can’t see yourself trusting the therapist, continuing the therapy could be harmful or detrimental to your mental health and well-being.
6. They can meet you halfway
A great therapist won’t try only to push their agenda or what they think will work for you. They need to be flexible and meet you in the middle. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to therapy. The therapist needs to consider your needs, wants and where you’re at in life.
In fact, therapy is a consensual process in which you expose your problems and the therapist takes note of your needs. Ideally, you should be collaborating, communicating and negotiating the best approach for the issues you’re presenting with. You will have to establish the goals of the therapy together and choose the most useful and appropriate approach and techniques with which you feel most comfortable. A great therapist will meet you halfway and will be flexible and open to your suggestions too.
7. How much is therapy? Will my health insurance cover it?
Therapists, like the rest of humanity, don’t work for free. Like you, they have bills and rent or mortgages to pay and everyday expenses to cover. They should be able to advise on the cost of the session and any government rebates or offers that might be available, depending on where you live.
As a general rule, therapy rates do not depend on the difficulty of the treatment, nor the complexity of the disorder or problem being treated. The price of the session is usually established by the time it lasts, between 45 or 60 minutes.
Also, your private health insurance could cover some of the therapy costs if you have mental health support provisions included in your policy. It’s worth checking with your insurer before dismissing therapy as too expensive for you.
There may be no or little cost if you’ve got good coverage due to your employment or other connections. Also, some workplaces offer Employee Assistance Programs that offer gratis counseling to staff, which is worth finding out about. However, these programs are often short-term and won’t offer the deep therapy that a private therapist can offer.
In short, to find the right therapist, you’ll want to do a little research. Find out about the approach they use, their specialization and experience. Seek opinions from other patients and, above all, when you go to the first session, pay attention to your instinct to know if it is someone you feel comfortable with and who you could trust. By now, you should be ready to decide on the best therapist for you.
References:
Walsh, L. M. et. Al. (2019) A meta-analysis of the effect of therapist experience on outcomes for clients with internalizing disorders. Psychother Res; 29(7): 846–859.
Hyun-nie, A. & Wampold, B. E. (2001) Where oh where are the specific ingredients? A meta-analysis of component studies in counseling and psychotherapy. Journal of Counseling Psychology; 48(3): 251-257.
Goldberg, S. B. et. Al. (2016) Do Psychotherapists Improve With Time and Experience? A Longitudinal Analysis of Outcomes in a Clinical Setting. Journal of Counseling Psychology; 63(1):1-11
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