Whether youâve seen multiple mental health experts before or are ready to have a session for the first time, choosing a therapist possible for your current needs and personality style is essential.
With many therapists available and different techniques, it can be tricky to find the most suitable fit. Here are some key factors to consider when choosing a therapist youâll open up to.
Your Goals
Before you pick your therapist, get clear on your goals for choosing a therapist appointment. Consider things such as the difficulties youâre facing at the moment or could meet soon and how theyâre affecting you and your life. Understand what you want to get from therapy and what you hope will improve for you due to attending sessions. For some people, the goal of seeing a counselor, psychiatrist, psychologist, or other professional is to identify the ânot quite rightâ feeling they have or articulate sub-conscious anxieties or desires.
Thereâs no right or wrong answer to the aims you have for treatment, as itâs such an individual thing. Just try to be as specific as possible with your aspirations to know them for yourself and articulate them to a mental health practitioner.
5 Things to Consider When Choosing a Therapist
Qualifications
One of the most crucial elements in picking a therapist is selecting someone suitably qualified. They should have the necessary educational degrees or certificates to their name and the proper licensing for their field. Always double-check these things rather than assuming people will only advertise if they possess such requirements.
Youâll also want to find a person with plenty of experience in their role and, if you need help in a particular area, someone adept at that treatment type or topic.
Specialties
You might require the services of a therapist schooled in a certain technique, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, desensitizing, Gestalt therapy, or psychoanalysis. Therapists donât learn every approach, so if you know youâre after help in a certain way, be on the lookout for this when checking out practitioner websites.
You might also be choosing a therapist who focuses primarily on one area. For instance, practitioners can concentrate on eating disorders, depression, divorce, domestic violence, social anxiety, career planning and achievement, personality disorders, grief, addiction, and so on.
Communication Style
Another factor in your decision-making will be the communication style of therapists. Pick a therapist who not only speaks your primary language well but who interacts with you in a way that suits your personality style. Some therapists choose to spend most of a session listening and letting clients guide what gets discussed, while others take more of an active role in leading conversations.
No matter what style someone has, you need to feel that theyâre a good listener who is paying attention at all times and that you feel comfortable sharing your innermost thoughts and feelings with them.
Location
Location matters, too. Weâre all busy these days, and itâs generally easier choosing a therapist whose practice is nearby our home or office than to have to navigate long drives and lots of traffic to go further afield. Having said that, though, if you choosing a therapist who isnât so close by but that gets rave reviews and specializes in the area you need, it may be worth the extra travel.
Alternatively, remember that the array of mental health workers offering online therapy these days makes things simpler. Thanks to technology, you can be choosing a therapist located anywhere and chat with them via video conferencing tools or phone calls. This increases the pool of people you can select from and can save you time (and often money) in turn.
Availability
Think about it before choosing a therapist. For example, you might only be able to fit in appointments on certain days of the week or within slim timeframes each day. The fit isn’t there if a therapist doesnât operate in the hours when youâre free.
Similarly, itâs worth asking about general appointment availability when looking into your shortlist of therapist options. Some people are so popular that theyâre booked out for weeks or months at a time. If you need to see someone soon, youâll want to turn to other options.
As you consider who to choose for therapy, it also pays to consider the costs and if your insurance will cover sessions. Plus, take the time to read reviews about therapists and ask friends, family members, and colleagues for referrals, as this can be a great way to find an excellent practitioner. Take your time choosing a therapist you confide in who will guide you on your path to improved mental health. Itâs one of the most important decisions youâll make.
