Therapy can be a daunting task, but if you are in a position in your life to seek therapy (and I believe everyone could benefit from it especially therapists) consider this as you embark on this life changing and potentially lifesaving journey.
First, know what you expect to achieve in therapy and clearly express that to your potential therapists it may sound something like this “Hey Pete, I’m reaching out because I feel frustrated all the time, I’m mad at myself, mad at my family and I feel depressed or numb and I really need someone to help me sort this out so I can get back to having fun with my family and working successfully in my job”. This initial presentation allows a therapist to hear you, and offer feedback on what service they can provide to assist. You can then easily evaluate if it seems to meet your needs.
If the therapist and you don’t click right away that’s ok but if you still struggle with being open or trusting them (and this isn’t the concern your seeking help for) then try someone else. A good therapist will not be bothered by you changing providers it is not a one size fits all field, there has to be a relationship in the therapy session to maximize benefits. Many therapists will understand and even recommend professionals that may be able to help
Next consideration is to find someone who seems to communicate the way you do, obviously not entirely, therapists use a different vocabulary at times, but if I want to learn about rocket science I doubt I could learn from Elon Musk due to a difference in our communication styles, the guy just talks in a way that I don’t get most of what he is saying.
Another consideration is comfort of therapeutic approach. There are a ton of different styles therapists are trained in and this is beneficial for you since you can find a style that fits best. Are you looking for a therapist that challenges you and pushes you then you may fit well with an REBT or CBT type therapist. Are you a goal oriented, progress improvement person, then something like Solution Focused may be a good therapist style. People are not cookie cut, they all have different experiences that create areas of comfort and discomfort, a good therapist fit makes you feel comfortable enough in session to examine your discomfort and generate positive growth through your work and exploration.
There are tons of ways to shop therapists now that the digital age has arrived. You can use the internet to search therapists near you, you can utilize a therapist working with telehealth in your state so a client in Philadelphia can work with a therapist in Pittsburgh, the opportunities to really invest in finding the right therapist are huge and since it’s your time and money why wouldn’t you treat it like taking bids for a new appliance in the house, find the therapist that is going to maximize your investment in yourself to increase the returns for today and tomorrow!
