How to Choose A Therapist
that is Right for You?
by Lisa Dunning, MA, MFT
You have reached a point in your life when you
feel a need to seek professional help, but how do you choose a therapist that is
right for you? The right therapist can facilitate the healing process in a
timely manner. The wrong therapist can lead you down a road of unnecessary
pain and suffering in your therapy and in your checkbook.
Make an educated decision
when you choose a therapist
Gain an understanding of what to expect from
your therapist. Ask friends who are in therapy or have been in therapy about
their experiences: Don’t ask about their specific issues, just ask what
they like and don’t like about their therapist or therapy in general. Call
organizations or schools that provide therapy and ask for literature or
brochures on the industry. The internet can also provide you with some
information about the industry and the various types of therapists
available.
You are interviewing the
therapist: Not the other way around
A therapist is skilled in listening, reading
your body language and asking questions. From a negotiation standpoint, you
are relatively defenseless. It is easy to forget that you are interviewing
the therapist to be sure they are right for you. Think about what you want
to accomplish in your therapy and prepare a list of questions that you feel
are important to your therapy goals. When speaking with the therapist, do
not be afraid to ask a lot of questions. A good therapist should address
your concerns in a forthright and attentive manner.
A therapist who
specializes can save you hours of unnecessary or ineffective care
A specialist will have more knowledge, will
be aware of the most recent studies and will have access to a greater number
of organizations, support groups, seminars and programs available for your
particular issue than a therapist who does not specialize. Ask a potential
therapist about their specialty. If they don’t have a specialty, then ask
them the bulk of the issues of their clientele. A therapist who has
committed himself, or herself, to a specific issue or clientele will provide
more effective and efficient therapy than a therapist who does not
specialize in your particular issue.
Paying a premium for
quality can save you hours of unnecessary or ineffective care
Ineffective therapy sessions are not a bargain at any
price. The quality of a therapist is important to the effectiveness of your
care. Ask for their credentials and a list of organizations or professionals
who have referred clients to them in the past. Contact the organizations and
a few of the professionals to confirm the list is legitimate.
I hope I have provided you with some insight
into the therapy industry. I also hope this knowledge empowers you to make a
proactive decision about your mental health needs.
Any of these articles by
Lisa Dunning, Family Therapist may be re-published in hardcopy
(magazines, newsletters or newspapers) or electronic format in websites,
ezines or electronic newsletters provided the following resource box is included at the end of the article with a
link to the URL
| Lisa Dunning is a
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Specializing in
Parent/Child Relationship issues, the author of "Good
Parents Bad Parenting: How To Parent Together When Your
Parenting Styles Are Worlds Apart" and the host of her own
radio show, "Life Support". She provides marriage, divorce and parenting
phone
sessions to clientele across the United States and Canada and provides expert
parenting advice to newspaper & magazine columnists. To learn
more about Lisa Dunning visit her website at http://www.LisaDunningMFT.com. |
