How To Choose The Best Therapist For You
4 Key Tips on How to Find the Right Therapist
Searching for a therapist can feel overwhelming and daunting at first. Finding the right therapist for you is the first step to overcome when you are considering therapy, and can be one of the most important steps in your process. Research shows that the therapist-client relationship is “essential to helping the client connect with, remain in and get the most from therapy.”
Remember to not give up if you don’t find the perfect therapist for you right away. It usually takes time and effort, but to start, we will provide you with some helpful tips on how to find the right therapist for you!
Determine the type of professional you need.
All therapists have specialties and many are licensed in specific fields such as marriage and family counseling or art therapy. You first should determine what type of therapist you may be seeking for your specific needs. If you are suffering from depression, anxiety, or PTSD, you may look for a clinical psychologist; whereas if you are suffering from bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or intense eating disorders, you may look into a psychiatrist. You can look at the American Psychological Association to find a detailed list of different specialties and their focuses.
Ask and search through reliable sources like your primary care doctor or online databases like Psychology Today.
If you are looking for therapy that is covered by your insurance, it may be beneficial to look at your provider directory for counselors. Many times, your physician will help you find therapists that are covered by your insurance, but are also reliable and trustworthy recommendations as well. Other reliable sources like Psychology Today can help you navigate therapists in your area and will tailor to your needs.
Ask many questions, and look for a connection!
If the therapist you are interested in does consultations, this will give you time to ask as many questions as you would like, and generally get to see if there is a connection between you and the therapist. It is important to ask questions in regards to their treatment styles, how they think they could help you and to let them know specifically what you are looking for to make sure they are the right fit for you. Leaving a consultation knowing how comfortable you were with the therapist, and if you feel you could benefit from their services is very important.
Do not settle, and do not give up!
Searching for a therapist is sort of like dating, you normally cannot find the perfect match right away! But that doesn’t stop you from continuing to look, right? You also wouldn’t settle for a partner, so don’t settle for a therapist! Remember that the therapist is there to help you, so you don’t want to work with someone you don’t feel 110% confident in. Keep looking, and keep trying out new paths. You will learn more about yourself and what you need by looking at a variety of therapists and specialties.
At Arcadian, we have an amazing group of therapists that all offer a different range of expertise and treatment styles. We are here to suit your needs, so if you would like to call and schedule a consultation with us, our number is (615) 436-0921.
