With May being Mental Health Awareness Month, it's a good time to reflect on your own mental well-being. If you have been considering working with a therapist for a while but are unsure of what exactly you need to be thinking about when taking that vital step, keep reading.
For those who choose therapy, it can mean a clearer mind, more productive communication skills, and perhaps even a life filled with less anxiety and hardship. But there are definitely some crucial things to stop and consider as you go through the process of choosing a therapist.
Let’s take a look at five important things to consider when looking for a therapist.
1. What kind of therapy will be best for your mental health goals?
Similar to doctors who specialize in different areas like plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and podiatrists, the same can be true for a lot of therapists. There are a number of different types of therapies available to treat various mental health issues.
For instance, cognitive behavioral therapy, also known as CBT, is a form of talking therapy that can often be helpful in treating depression and anxiety. Exposure therapy is a type of therapy that is often used to help those who are suffering from extreme anxiety or phobias. There’s also dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), which is often used for those who need help managing their emotions or forming constructive problem-solving skills.
If you’re unsure about where to even begin with this, you can always consult your health care provider or seek a referral based on what it is you’re looking to work on.
2. Does online therapy work for you, or will in-person be ideal?
Online therapy has become increasingly popular throughout the global health crisis due to sheer convenience and being able to access mental health practitioners from anywhere in the world. The thing is, though, online therapy doesn’t work for everyone.
For those engaging in lengthy and frequent talk therapy sessions, you may find that things don’t seem quite as personal and thoughtful through online therapy and that you’d prefer to meet in person. There may also be individuals out there who just feel more comfortable having that space and find that online therapy is the best fit for them.
Whatever you feel more comfortable with and whatever type of therapy you choose, just be sure that the therapist you’re looking to book with offers the option that you’re looking for.
3. Don’t just go off of referrals from friends and family.
So, you tell a close friend or work bestie that you’re looking for a good therapist and they immediately have a name in their back pocket at the ready. While a quick and painless turnaround sounds fantastic, it also seems a little too good to be true, right? To put things frankly, the answer is usually yes, it is too good to be true.
When you receive the name of a therapist from a friend, it’s helpful to keep in mind that they might be in therapy for a mental health issue that is completely dissimilar from yours, and this therapist might not have the tools, education, and licensing that are a match for your needs.
Also, have you asked about their age or sex? Maybe you’re someone who is more comfortable speaking with a female close to your own age rather than a man who’s in a higher age bracket. The moral of the story is that you should keep in mind that just because your friend thinks this therapist is great, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll work for you.
4. Keep in mind that you may need to try out a few therapists to find the perfect one.
Unfortunately, finding a good therapist can often feel like dating in that you may have to go through a few duds in order to find your one true love. Now, we don’t ever condone falling in love with your therapist, but it’s important to note that you may start therapy with a psychologist who looks great in theory, but when you’re in the room with them, things just don’t seem to jibe.
If you go through a few sessions with a therapist — and it’s vital to give yourself that time and space to adjust to opening up with someone completely new to you — and you’re still not feeling it, it’s OK to take a step back and reassess. Meaning, if your therapist doesn’t quite have a personality type that you get on with or possess a communication style that makes you feel comfortable and listened to, you can move on.
There is no shame in trying out therapy with one individual only to discover that they’re just not the one for you. And if you can find a therapist who offers a free consultation where you can talk a little bit, even over the phone, and get to know their style and discuss what you’re looking to work on together, so much the better.
5. What are their credentials, insurance, and treatment plans?
Lastly, you’ll want to pause to learn about some of those line items that may not seem important at the time but could be vital to your long-term treatment plan.
Before you really jump in and start booking your weekly sessions, it’s important to make sure that your therapist has the right credentials that you’re looking for. For example, if you are looking for someone who is able to prescribe medication for your depression or anxiety, you need to look for a psychiatrist or psychotherapist rather than a psychologist.
This kind of goes hand-in-hand with learning about the types of treatment plans your therapist will engage you in. And in order to achieve your mental health goals, ask about the kinds of things that will likely be involved along the way, and if they’re willing to share what that may look like for you long-term.
It can also be a good thing for your wallet to check in and see what they charge per session or on a monthly basis and see if your insurance offers coverage, because those therapy bills can quickly add up.
*Disclaimer: The advice on LittleThings.com is not a substitute for consultation with a medical professional or treatment for a specific condition. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem without consulting a qualified professional. Please contact your health-care provider with questions and concerns.
