Every person has issues, and it should never be a source of embarrassment if you find yourself seeking the help of a therapist. Embracing your issues and bringing them to light is a step toward destroying the stigma about mental health issues so more people can seek help and live better lives.
You can’t assume, however, that any therapist is the right one for you specifically. Sure, they all have expertise and have tools to help, but there are a number of practitioners that will be a perfect match for you. Here are some tips on how to find one who can truly help.
1. Start with your area
For example, do a Google search for an eating disorder treatment program specialist in Westport if you were presently suffering from an eating disorder. It helps to find a local therapist whose close by and can, therefore, answer any pressing questions or problems you might have at any moment.
When their clinic is closed, it also shouldn’t be a problem for you to reach them in case of concerns. Plus, if you find yourself in a severely difficult situation, you should be able to get hold of your therapist easily.
2. Consider your primary’s recommendation
Your primary doctor should be able to give some input on possible therapists in your area. Primary doctors also have a fairly good idea on what you need and can properly narrow down the list of possibilities based on your personal situation.
They would also know the practitioners in your area and what their specialties are, thereby being able to recommend a therapist for you.
3. Treat it like a first date
Your first appointment with a therapist is like a first date. You are checking for compatibility in that you are comfortable talking to them or the sound of their voice soothes you.
You should evaluate it as such — obviously without the obvious romantic feelings, though. Is there good rapport? Do you feel like you can trust this person? Do they have any personal quirks that you find annoying? These are good questions to ask yourself to truly know.
4. Check their specialty and accreditations
Don’t forget to check the therapist’s accreditations — making sure they are licensed for the job. Do an interview to figure out when and where the therapist graduated. Find out how long they have been in practice and most importantly — their specialty.
5. Find out payment options
Of course, don’t forget the practical side of things. Prior to setting an appointment, you must first know exactly how the payment options are set up.
Is the therapist covered by your insurance? If not, how much is the payment scale for their services? Don’t hesitate to ask this; you don’t want to add payment problems to the list of things you worry about.
Remember that in order for there to be an improvement, you and your therapist should have a great rapport with each other. Take your time in finding one whom you can trust.