As the world is going through changes, the number of people who are going for therapy is also increasing. With this increase in the number of people seeking therapy, there’s also be an increase in people who are now becoming therapists. This has made looking for the correct therapist or a good therapist an even more difficult job. However, finding a good therapist is one of the most fundamental steps in your mental health journey. Sometimes it can be extremely difficult to find a therapist who suits your needs or one who can actually understand what you’re going through and help you through it. If you’re a beginner who has just decided to start treatment and your mental health journey, it is even more important that you take the step of choosing the correct therapist much more seriously.
There can be highly qualified therapists out there who can provide you with guidance but not all will be the right person for you. There is no one-size-fits-all approach here but searching for the right therapist will make all the difference.
Some of the tips that you can follow in finding the right therapist that suits your needs are:
- Ask family and friends
If anyone in your inner circle or your family knows a therapist or goes to a therapist, you can ask them for references. Otherwise, asking them how the current therapist is and getting an honest referral will be a huge help.
It is not uncommon for someone to start seeing the therapist and they’re leaving them midway, but you need to understand that everyone will have a different experience with different kinds of therapists. This is because not everyone will fit the needs of each person. However, this does not mean that the therapist is not good. Even when you’re taking references and someone says that the therapist was not good enough, make sure to do your due diligence before deciding if that therapist fits your need. Though sharing therapist with someone you are very close to is not ideal, it is a call you should make after discussing it with the therapist and the other person involved.
- Look for their online presence and reviews
These days, since everything is available online, you can always look for your therapist online. Look at their website, their Instagram page, if they have an active YouTube channel, or any medium through which they are expressing themselves or promoting themselves. This makes it easier for you to shop around and find someone who will suit your needs the best.
You can also check for online reviews about the therapist before contacting them. Make sure that you do some research about your therapist before you contact them. Though most therapists will include all the information on the website that can help you understand if they are right fit for you, you can always ask them more specific questions.
- If your needs aligned with their treatment approach
As different therapists might work on different approaches, it is always important to ask them about their approach before moving forward. For example, some therapists use psychotherapy, some use more of a behaviorist approach and so on. If your needs will not be fulfilled by their approach, it is better to look for a therapist who will be able to understand your problem better and provide better treatment.
While no treatment approach is wrong, it is always a more subjective experience and preference.
- Check the licensing of the therapist
This is probably one of the most important steps when looking for a therapist. Your therapist should be licensed to practice therapy in that particular state or country. Each state will have different regulations for practicing therapy or being a counselor. You can also check the licensing of the therapist through the website of the state. Remember that though people call themselves therapists with even a graduation degree, you should always go for a therapist who has a master’s degree.
How to find a good therapist near me?
If you are not comfortable with online therapy, here are some pointers that can help you find a good therapist near you-
- Establish your therapy goals.
- Look for therapists near you by asking people who live close to you for referrals.
- If you have a family doctor, ask them for referrals.
- Ask the therapist for a 15-20 minutes consultation. This is usually free of cost and will help you assess if the therapist is the correct fit for you.
- You should also make a budget as going for in-person therapy will also include travel costs. Hence, make sure you consider these travel costs as part of your therapy sessions.
In the search of “how to find the best therapist”, we might sometimes make mistakes of choosing a therapist who is doing more good than harm. So, what are some “red flags in my therapist” that you should look out for-
- They talk more than you
- They interrupt you often
- They have behaved inappropriately with you (sexually or otherwise)
- They violated your confidentiality
- They are always looking at the clock
- They keep insisting that you start medications
- They say things like “if you don’t do this, you will plunge into depression”
- They pressure you into being a client for does not support your decision to go to therapy for short-term
- They make you feel guilty for your actions
- You do not feel good after your therapy sessions
People will often say that you should give therapy some time before you start seeing real changes and though this is true, there should be some sort of control and stability you should feel after a few sessions as well. There is no timeline on how long you should seek therapy. For some it can be months and for some, it can be years. Ultimately, you can decide to terminate therapy once you feel confident enough about your own skills and can cope with the challenges that got you to start therapy in the first place. When you feel that you have achieved a certain level of personal growth and met your goals, maybe that is when you can say that your therapy has reached an end.
At North America Behavioural Health Services we help you find the correct therapist who not only suits your needs but also sets you on the correct path of treatment. Our licensed professionals will help guide you through the beginner’s jitter and ensure that your search for a good therapist yields good results.
