Finding the Right Therapist

Therapy is a big investment, in oneself, one’s health, and one’s relationships. How does a person find the right therapist? What happens if a person starts therapy with a provider who is not a good fit? How can a person get the most out of therapy? Read on for more.

Finding a therapist takes some work. A person will need to search for a provider in one’s state (or a provider licensed to provide telehealth in that state). Licensure is important, as licensure ensures proper education, holds providers to certain ethical standards, and requires continuing education to keep the provider’s skills sharp (Hairston, n.d.). An individual can search for providers by asking a primary care provider for recommendations or referrals, asking friends or family, or by doing an internet search (Davis, n.d.). Once an individual has a list of provider names, he or she can then begin calling the providers to find out who is taking clients and discuss important accessibility factors like whether or not the provider takes insurance, and what the ongoing fee structure is. One tip to find more affordable counseling is look for a site that offers therapy from pre-licensed graduate interns (Banks, n.d.). These are students who are completing graduate coursework and offering services under the supervision of a licensed, more practiced therapist. When choosing a licensed or a pre-licensed therapist, an individual may want to ask about theory of counseling, or ways that the provider practices, too. All of these will improve the success of matching with the right therapist.

What if, after beginning therapy, the therapist is not a good fit? Well, the individual has options. If the lack of fit is due to ethical issues, the client can report the therapist to the counseling licensure board in that provider’s state (Jenner Law Trial Lawyers, n.d.). Ethical issues could include abuse, confidentiality violations, or sexual misconduct. Hopefully none of these will occur, however. Most likely the therapist may not feel like a good fit because of his or her theory, worldview, or practice (Conant, n.d.). In these cases, it is good to discuss concerns with therapist. Perhaps the therapist can seek consultation and change his or her mode to better suit the client. If not, perhaps the therapist can refer the client to a practitioner better suited to the client’s needs. In both cases, communication with the therapist is key!

Communication is key to getting good results from therapy, too. The client-counselor relationship is one of the greatest factors impacting client success, outside of the client’s own motivation (DeAnglise, 2019). The more the client communicates with the therapist, the better services the therapist can provide (Brown, 2021). Therapy is not just about the sessions, either. Clients who get the most of out sessions, do their work between sessions. They think about what their therapists tell them. They complete homework exercises, if assigned. They commit to the process.

Is therapy right for everyone? Well, it can be helpful to everyone. Anyone can progress in therapy, if he or she finds the right therapist and commits to the work. Maybe today is the day to start looking for a therapist to see for yourself!