how to find a therapist that is the best fit for you
I know this is a challenging decision as many people ask, how can counseling help me? Will therapy be able to help me with my relationships, anxiety, or depression? The short answer in this is yes, but let’s talk a little bit about beginning the process of starting counseling.
Research consistently shows that the best indication for therapy to be successful is the rapport and connection that you have with your therapist or provider. Everyone who seeks mental health services typically has different goals or an outcome that they hope to achieve.
People in our community seek services for long-standing mental health challenges and expect to be in therapy for a longer period as they need support in recovery from an addiction or eating disorder. While other people seek services as an opportunity to invest in their wellness to have connection and support through transitions. Their goals can be anything from learning skills to cope with their anxiety or navigating relationships. As you are looking to start this process here are some tips to finding the best fit for your mental health needs.
Spend some time looking into a therapist who specializes in the challenges that you are facing and has education and training in these specific areas.
See if you can schedule a consult, ask questions about the process, and see if you feel a warm connection to this therapist.
Scheduling and cost. This is an important aspect to inquire about, can this provider consistently make time for your needs regarding you work, school or childcare needs.
In person or Telehealth. Since the beginning of the pandemic telehealth services have been on the rise, which has provided another level of flexibility.
Theory versus personal connection. Counselors practice with different modalities, some can be more relationship based or theoretically based; ask about how they approach the counseling relationship and see if this aligns with your values and goals for your sessions.
Are you open to implementing therapy into real life for example practicing new skills, finding community or being open to trying new things? Many therapists will encourage you to practice and implement these skills to build progress towards your goals.
When reading a professional’s profile or talking to them in the consultation, are you sensing a feeling of comfort while offering a safe place with inclusivity.
Challenge yourself, do you envision yourself being able to be vulnerable and talk about difficult topics or challenges that are going on in your life.
As you navigate this process, we hope that these tips are helpful in your process of choosing the best provider for you. If you are wanting to schedule a free ten-minute consultation, reach out through the contact form. We look forward to connecting with you soon.
