6 Steps On Finding The Right Therapist
Mental illness and suicide are national epidemics. According to the World Health Organization, every 40 seconds someone loses their life to suicide. Suicides are preventable by helping those who struggle with mental illness and suicidal ideations through support and treatment.
One such method of treatment is the use of counseling. Counseling is a proven and effective form of treatment for individuals who experience suicidal thoughts and/or self-injurious behaviors.
According to Johns Hopkins Blooming School of Public Health, research proved that talk therapy can reduce suicide rates in those who have previously attempted to take their own lives by 27%.
While therapy is an effective form of treatment, there are many barriers that individuals who reach out for help with their mental health face. The most common obstacle that prevents these individuals from seeking treatment is finding a therapist that will meet their personal needs and help them to achieve mental wellness.
So, how do you find the right therapist? Here are six easy steps to start the process of finding the right therapist.
Table of Contents
Step 1: Identify Therapists Practicing in Your Area
Step 2: Find a therapist that specializes in your treatment needs
Step 4: Be sure the counselor you chose is someone you will feel safe and comfortable with
Step 5: Identify the financial costs upfront
Step 6: Be patient and understand that finding the right therapist may take time
Step 1: Identify Therapists Practicing in Your Area
The first step to finding the right counselor is to identify therapists practicing in your area. One way that this can happen is to ask for a referral from a trusted medical professional.
Which of your doctors should you ask? A good place to start is with your primary care physician. If you are trying to search for a doctor for your child, then talk with their pediatrician.
Obtaining a referral makes it easier for a new therapist to receive your medical information and ensures that you find a qualified and licensed therapist to practice mental health treatment.
If obtaining a referral seems too daunting or isn’t an option, there are resources available that allow you to find a therapist in your area and decide independently what therapist would provide the help you need.
One resource you can use to independently search for therapists in your area and decide whether they are the best fit for you is Psychologist Locator. The American Psychology Association (APA) developed this program to allow you to find therapists within your area and learn more information about their practices. Psychology Locator provides general information on the available therapists such as their contact information and location, the areas of mental health they specialize in, their methods of treatment, what form of insurance they accept, and whether they are accepting new patients.
Another resource that you can use to independently search for therapists in your area is the National Register of Health Service Psychologists. This tool allows you to find local therapists through the use of your area code. However, this site also allows you to find therapists by searching for different specializations and treatment methods. This may be helpful if you are looking for a specific form of treatment or are looking for a therapist within a particular specialization.
In addition to this information, the National Register of Health Service Psychologists also provides general information about each therapist. Some of this information includes their location and contact information, their areas of expertise, methods of treatment, and a contact form that allows you to get in touch with the therapist.
Step 2: Find a therapist that specializes in your treatment needs
After you identified the available therapists in your area, the second step you should take is to find a therapist that fits your individual needs.
Each counselor practices in different areas of mental health and specializes in various disorders. For example, one doctor could focus on different types of depression while another provides excellent care for eating disorders.
Counselors often utilize different methods of treatment such as dialectical behavioral therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. Before choosing a therapist it is important to identify their specializations and the treatment methods they practice to be sure they will be able to provide the help you need.
To ensure that you find a therapist that fits your individual needs you should also consider whether in-person or virtual therapy sessions are a better fit for you. Some people may prefer in-person counseling because they feel that face-to-face interaction allows them to create a stronger bond with a therapist.
While some people do well with in-person therapy, others may prefer virtual therapy. If things like distance or travel may become an issue or prevent you from seeking out consoling in the past, then virtual counseling sessions may be right for you. Attending virtual counseling sessions may also be a better fit for you if you experience social anxiety or have difficulty connecting with others.
Step 3: Identify whether the therapist practices long or short-term treatment and determine which is a better fit for you
The third step to finding a therapist is to identify whether the counselor practices long or short-term treatment.
Long-term treatment often focuses on the present and past experiences that may have affected your overall life and mental health. In turn, this helps you work through prevailing struggles and past trauma.
While long-term treatment focuses primarily on the past, short-term treatment often focuses on a persons day to day life and the struggles they are facing.
When deciding whether long or short-term treatment is best for you consider what you want to achieve from therapy. Once you make a decision, make sure you select a therapist that delivers the type of therapy you want for yourself.
Step 4: Be sure the counselor you chose is someone you will feel safe and comfortable with
After identifying whether a therapist practices long or short-term treatment, you can proceed to the next step. Find a therapist that is someone you feel safe and comfortable with.
You may feel more comfortable with a therapist who shares a similar gender and/or sexual identity, race, or culture as you.
You must be able to open up and become vulnerable with your therapist so you can heal and receive the help that you need. Being able to relate and identify with a therapist allows you to create a relationship with one another. Developing a relationship with your therapist is incredibly important and is a major contributing factor to the success of treatment.
In an article titled, The Importance of the Relationship With a Therapist, Sigmund Freud hypothesized that the relationship between the therapist and patient was a key component of successful treatment. Since 1913 when the article was first published, research has shown that the quality of this relationship is the strongest predictor of whether or not therapy is successful.
Step 5: Identify the financial costs upfront
Another significant barrier preventing those who need help from beginning the therapy is the financial burden. The costs that come along with therapy can be overwhelming, causing additional stress and anxiety. If your insurance does not cover mental health treatment or if a person does not have insurance, this can amplify financial stress.
To help avoid this issue, it is important to Identify how much each session will cost and whether you can use insurance to pay or reduce these costs.
However, if you find a therapist that fits all of your individual needs but is out of your price range, it is important to remember that your mental health is important and some programs and resources may be able to assist you with costs. Private therapists may be willing to reduce the costs of therapy if you are unable to afford their fees. Resources like community centers may offer free or reduced therapy.
In addition, there may also be other financial resources available to you. Be sure to research additional methods of assistance if these resources are not available to you.
Step 6: Be patient and understand that finding the right therapist may take time
Although finding a therapist may be complex and difficult, it is important to prioritize your mental health and receive the help you need to achieve mental wellness. When looking for a therapist it is important to remember that finding a therapist that fits your personal needs may take time. It is also important to remember that the first few therapists you try may not be the right fit for you.
Conclusion
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts and/or self-injurious behavior, it is important to know that you are never alone, even when it feels like you are. There are always resources and support available and there is always hope.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7 and you can reach them by calling 1-800-273-8255.
To read the original article published by Planted, Not Buried, click here.
