How to Choose the Best Therapist for You
Therapy can be an extremely vulnerable experience. Some have even described it as metaphorically undressing in front of someone else. In therapy, you may want to share some of your deepest darkest secrets or even unload with an unfiltered rant; finding the right therapist for you is crucial to forming a bond of trust, comfort, and understanding. But let’s be honest–choosing the best therapist for you can be daunting. There are many options out there, and you may not even know what you want. Here are some helpful questions to ask yourself and tips for your search.
1. What kind of care am I looking for?
Perhaps you’re going through a life transition, struggling to get out of bed in the morning due to depression, battling an addiction, or grieving a loss. Whatever you are going through, there’s a therapist out there for you who is familiar with or might even specialize in this kind of support. Reading into a therapist's bio can give you insight into what their focus and approach is. Maybe you find yourself reliving past traumas, so you may want a counselor who specializes in PTSD and is EMDR certified. Or maybe you’re experiencing crippling anxiety, so you may want a therapist who takes a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy approach to help with coping mechanisms.
2. Where can I find a therapist?
Finding a therapist can be as simple as doing a Google search, asking a friend or acquaintance for a recommendation, or contacting your healthcare provider for a referral. Your next step would be contacting your insurance. Or you can skip this step by going directly through your insurance provider and searching its website for in-network mental health professionals. Compile a list of potentials, and start narrowing down your options.
3. Get in touch with your potential therapists
Selecting a counselor is a little bit like speed dating. Here are some questions to consider asking your potential therapist:
What is their availability? Does it work for you?
What is their counseling approach? What are their areas of expertise? - Does the counselor’s philosophy suit your needs?
Is telehealth an option with your therapist?
What is the payment process for a therapy session? (Consider that some therapists may charge on a sliding scale)
The process of choosing the best therapist is personal. Therapy should be tailored to your desires and needs. After all, this is your time and space. Make the most of it! Last, but not least, take the leap of faith. Again, therapy is a vulnerable experience and can be scary; however, it can be one of the most beautiful and rewarding experiences.
