The process of finding the perfect therapist is both exciting and overwhelming, but for many people, it leads to not choosing any therapist at all. Since there are many therapies out there with so many approaches, you might get confused about which one to choose. Once you have chosen the therapy you want to pursue, the next step is to choose a reliable therapist. It comes with a lot of questions in mind. Will the therapist maintain confidentiality? Will I become any better? Will I be blind-sided? And so on.
With all these questions, a person who is seeking help might get confused. If not guided well, he might get into the wrong hands thus wasting money. To not let that happen, you can just use some of your basic instincts and find the best therapist for you. To make this quest easy, we have here some of the most powerful tips that will help you choose the best therapist.
1. Be sure about what you want from a therapy
You need to be sure about what you expect from therapy. Though the question is simple, it becomes very complex when the person starts thinking about it. Frequently people say that they have the desire to be happy, someone told them to come, there is something wrong going on in their life, etc. Be sure about what your own goals are to make sure you seek the therapist that works to support those goals.
2. Ask friends and family
If you have never been to therapy before, it is okay to ask the people you know about the best therapist in the city. There are many therapists out there who have unrealistically glittery and catchy profiles online. Before you fall into this trap and waste your money, do ask one or two friends or family members about where they go and how is their experience.
3. Demographics
The therapeutic space carries many thoughts and ideas and is vulnerable most of the time. When you connect with the right therapist, it will foster you in many ways but you have sure you are connected to someone who is the right person to support you in that scenario. So, if you are going to talk about certain things that you think a therapist from far away or different demographic are won’t understand, it is better to keep that in mind when searching for the therapist.
4. The Specialties
Now, this is an important step. If you have no idea what psychology offers you, you might end up with the wrong kind of therapy. Each therapy has its own goals and way of treating, so you ought to make a complete research about which therapy would suit you the best. Some are based on behaviours, some are cognitions based, some are concerned about your experience and the list goes on. Once you decide which therapy to choose, you can get connected with the related therapist.
5. Read the profiles carefully
The profile is an impression of the therapist where their pictures are also attached. You can read about them, their specialities, experiences, and much more through their profile. Make sure to read it wisely and you can always fix up an initial introductory meeting rather than being stuck. You can also look at what sort of therapies are they offering based on their specialties.
6. Asking Questions
No need to make assumptions and get confused by sitting at home watching at their profiles. You can contact them right away through an appointment and ask them questions. They usually allow a 15-minutes brief conversation to give you an idaea about what they are going to offer. You can arrange some questions and ask them nicely to make sure you are in the right place. Be wise and use this time properly.
7. Friendly or professional?
Read the reviews about the therapist, what do people have to say about him? Also, when you have the introductory phase over, analyse their way of interacting with you. A good therapist will provide you the support you need but never reach the stage of friendship. They should sound professional and they should properly deal with you.
8. The guaranteed results
Although the therapist and the client put in their efforts to support the cause, no one can guarantee results. So beware if the therapist seems eager to promise you any sort of results in the first few sessions. Some even make their clients see bigger dreams on the introductory interaction. You don’t want to trust this sort of therapists because they are not honest with you.
9. No decisions should be made for you
A good therapist must be able to provide you the strength and motivation to make your own decisions. You must be able to understand your situation, analyse it in a better way and provide you the steps to overcome any sort of issues you are facing. In this process, you must feel like you are being empowered and fulfilled. The therapist shouldn’t be making any decisions for your life. They must guide you towards making life better on your own.
10. Trust your instincts
If you have had an introductory call or interaction with the therapist, you ought to trust your instincts about the decision. What does his way of talking tell you? How does he look to you? Do you see him as someone who would understand you? Answer all these questions and go with your guts when making the decision.
The Takeaway
Searching for a good therapist is indeed challenging, and if you are not doing it right, you might have exhausted and left it at the end. Using these tips will help you in several ways in the quest of finding the right therapist. Be focused on what you want and what you are getting. Some simple techniques can help you spot the right therapist for your needs.