A common question is “how do I find the right therapist for me”?
The term “therapist” is a universal term which covers a variety of disciplines including mental health counseling (also known as professional counseling), clinical social work, marriage and family therapy, counseling psychology, and clinical psychology. All disciplines require at least a master’s degree and more than one thousand hours of supervised clinical practice prior to licensure. All licensed mental health professionals are trained in basic competency for all mental health issues. Many therapists will also identify specialties (e.g., trauma, depression, anxiety, etc.). Selecting a therapist who specializes in your issue could help maximize the possible benefits of therapy. A specialist is particularly important for issues which may be either less common or requiring increased sensitivity such as sexual trauma, gender identity, videogame addiction, etc.
How do I select a therapist? If you have health insurance, call your provider to see who the approved in-network providers are in your area. Therapy is an investment into your well-being though can become pricey. Exploring options with the support of your insurance would be a good place to start.
Most insurance cards will have a number for “mental health”, or the like listed on the back of your member card. When you call, they will ask for a brief description of what you may need help with and then offer a list of providers in your area.
Once you obtain a list, you can do some research on each provider. Most therapists advertise on Psychology Today (www.psychologytoday.com) and provide information on their theoretical orientation, rates, services provided, and areas of specialty. Therapist may also have their own sites which contain similar information.
Some things to consider when selecting candidates to be your therapist might be gender, age, and culture/ ethnicity, and religious/ spiritual orientation of the counselor.
Ultimately, the best way to evaluate a therapist as a potential fit for you is to schedule an appointment and spend a session with them to see if you feel comfortable. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about their approach to therapy or how they may be able to help you specifically with whatever it is you would like to work on. A good working relationship with a therapist is a very valuable tool, so selecting someone who is a good fit for you will pay off in dividends.
I hope you have found this helpful! 😊
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