How to choose a therapist?How to choose a therapist?

It is important to find a therapist that works for you. It is important to find a therapist that works for you. Below are some things that you should look for when Below are some things that you should look for when choosing a therapist. This is someone that you are choosing a therapist. This is someone that you are going to be working with for quite awhile, so take care going to be working with for quite awhile, so take care at the start to select the person that is right for you. at the start to select the person that is right for you. The therapist you choose should meet all of the The therapist you choose should meet all of the criteria below. It is important to discus these issues criteria below. It is important to discus these issues before engaging in therapeutic relationship with before engaging in therapeutic relationship with someone.someone.

Look for a therapist who:Look for a therapist who: Has the training and education to treat you.Has the training and education to treat you.

It is important that you choose a therapist who is It is important that you choose a therapist who is licensed to practice independently, such as: LCPC, licensed to practice independently, such as: LCPC, LPCC, LSCW, LISW, PhD, MD. LPCC, LSCW, LISW, PhD, MD.

A life coach is not necessary a trained and A life coach is not necessary a trained and licensed professional, and therefore should be licensed professional, and therefore should be avoided. Some therapists also work as life avoided. Some therapists also work as life coaches, but they maintain their license to coaches, but they maintain their license to practice clinically. practice clinically.

Look for the stated credentials.Look for the stated credentials. Look for a therapist trained in “talk-therapy” who Look for a therapist trained in “talk-therapy” who

also has some knowledge of medication (only also has some knowledge of medication (only MDs are able to prescribe medication, so other MDs are able to prescribe medication, so other clinicians can provide some information, but will clinicians can provide some information, but will have to refer you to a MD for meds). have to refer you to a MD for meds).

Puts you at ease.Puts you at ease. The therapist should take responsibility for The therapist should take responsibility for

creating a warm, nurturing, and safe environment creating a warm, nurturing, and safe environment for therapy. A sense of humor is a real plus. for therapy. A sense of humor is a real plus. It is It is important that the therapist challenges you when important that the therapist challenges you when necessary, while at the same time creating a necessary, while at the same time creating a general environment of acceptance. general environment of acceptance.

Encourages you to shop around for the right Encourages you to shop around for the right therapist.therapist. It is important for you to get a sense of the It is important for you to get a sense of the

therapist before you commit to seeing her, therapist before you commit to seeing her, even for the first appointment. Look for even for the first appointment. Look for someone who is available to have a 10 – 15 someone who is available to have a 10 – 15 minute phone conversation so that you can minute phone conversation so that you can interview her and get a sense of his/her style interview her and get a sense of his/her style and you comfort level.and you comfort level.

Fits the clinical approach to the clientFits the clinical approach to the client The therapist should not try to fit the client to The therapist should not try to fit the client to

his preferred clinical approach. No matter how his preferred clinical approach. No matter how great one approach works, it will not work for great one approach works, it will not work for all clients. A good therapist works to figure all clients. A good therapist works to figure out what works with each person and move out what works with each person and move forward from there. In addition, you want forward from there. In addition, you want someone who is amenable to havingsomeone who is amenable to having others join others join sessions as appropriate.sessions as appropriate.

Is Emotionally Healthy.Is Emotionally Healthy. You want a therapist that feels good about You want a therapist that feels good about

himself/herself. Look for someone who appears himself/herself. Look for someone who appears to feel at ease and confident. Although look out to feel at ease and confident. Although look out for arrogance, depression, or nervousness. for arrogance, depression, or nervousness. These can impede the therapeutic relationship These can impede the therapeutic relationship and impact the benefit of therapy. and impact the benefit of therapy.

Addresses the possibility of seeing you outside Addresses the possibility of seeing you outside the sessions.the sessions. The world can be a very small place, and it is The world can be a very small place, and it is

likely, even in large cities, that you and your likely, even in large cities, that you and your therapist will run into one another outside of therapist will run into one another outside of the session. the session. The therapist should hold your The therapist should hold your confidentiality and privacy as paramount,confidentiality and privacy as paramount, and and give you specific information about how you give you specific information about how you can expect them to respond to these situations. can expect them to respond to these situations. It is important that you do not end up feeling It is important that you do not end up feeling uncomfortable due to accidentally running into uncomfortable due to accidentally running into him outside of the session.him outside of the session.

Provides you with clear office policies.Provides you with clear office policies. These should include the limits of These should include the limits of

confidentiality, client rights, and what to do in confidentiality, client rights, and what to do in an emergency. You should be able to have an emergency. You should be able to have copies of all office policies.copies of all office policies.

Lets you explain your issues as you experience Lets you explain your issues as you experience them.them. Be wary of those who seem to pigeon-hole you. Be wary of those who seem to pigeon-hole you.

You want the therapist to allow you to be an You want the therapist to allow you to be an individual and not assume that they know individual and not assume that they know everything about you.everything about you.

Be wary of someone who seems aloof or Be wary of someone who seems aloof or disengaged in the session.disengaged in the session. The silent therapist, who does not answer The silent therapist, who does not answer

questions, is not going to be a good fit for most questions, is not going to be a good fit for most people. To be successful, therapy should be people. To be successful, therapy should be experienced as an ongoing dialogue within an experienced as an ongoing dialogue within an accepting relationship.accepting relationship.

Maintains clear and healthy boundaries.Maintains clear and healthy boundaries. Although the therapist should be flexible, and approachable, it Although the therapist should be flexible, and approachable, it

is important that he/she consistently maintain appropriate is important that he/she consistently maintain appropriate boundaries with every client. boundaries with every client.

There should be no sexual overtures, no business offers, and There should be no sexual overtures, no business offers, and no touching (hugging, etc.) that makes you feel uncomfortable.no touching (hugging, etc.) that makes you feel uncomfortable.

Does not see themselves as better than youDoes not see themselves as better than you. . The therapist should always be respectful and decent, and The therapist should always be respectful and decent, and

never condescending. You want a therapist who does not never condescending. You want a therapist who does not demean or belittle, but treats you much as an equal. In demean or belittle, but treats you much as an equal. In addition, beware of therapists who convey that they would addition, beware of therapists who convey that they would never go to therapy.never go to therapy.

Presents as professional, knowledgeable, and an expert.Presents as professional, knowledgeable, and an expert. You want someone competent and experienced to guide you You want someone competent and experienced to guide you

as you deal with really difficult issues.as you deal with really difficult issues.

Some Key Features of Some Key Features of PsychotherapyPsychotherapy

Therapeutic Alliance:Therapeutic Alliance: Caring Caring relationship between the client and relationship between the client and therapisttherapist

Therapy offers a protected setting where Therapy offers a protected setting where emotional emotional catharsiscatharsis (release) can occur (release) can occur

All the therapies offer some explanation All the therapies offer some explanation or rationale for the client’s sufferingor rationale for the client’s suffering

Provides clients with a new perspective Provides clients with a new perspective about themselves or their situations and about themselves or their situations and a chance to practice new behaviorsa chance to practice new behaviors