Most people run into problems, somewhere in their life, that seem too big or too persistent to handle alone. Taking the first step and deciding to seek help is a courageous move. Next, how do you find a counselor or therapist that’s the right fit for you?
Therapy is a collaborative process, so finding someone you have a good rapport with is crucial. You may have to shop around for a while to find someone you are comfortable with. Most therapists give a free consultation, so you can get to know their therapeutic approach and ask any questions you may have about therapy over the phone or in person. It may be helpful to briefly describe your problem as you find out some of the following questions:
What orientation to counseling does the therapist ascribe to?
Does the therapist have experience helping people whose problems are similar to yours, and what treatment is commonly helpful?
Does the therapist have a preferred specialization in a particular area, or work closely with a particular age group or gender?
Insurance coverage can be confusing these days, with many individual options. Find out what mental health practitioners your insurance carrier covers, the percentage covered and the deductible, then ask if the therapist works with your insurance. They may be in-network, out-of-network, or may not take insurance at all.
Ask about fees, and if you have financial constraints does the therapist have a sliding-fee scale?
After your initial conversation or visit, make notes about how it went and your impressions. Did you feel comfortable and listened to? Did the therapist seem to understand your issues and seem knowledgeable and informed about what you presented? Was there a treatment plan suggested that suits you?
When involved in counseling be prepared to feel better and turn your life around in positive ways, but keep in mind that addressing old painful emotional issues can bring up uncomfortable and distressing feelings along the way. In successful therapy we really are developing healthy, adaptive neural networks in the brain that have the potential to create lasting change.