July 31, 2021 |
danielle
Finding the right care for your needs can feel a little like looking for love on a dating app—it’s sometimes tedious, awkward, and can be a bit of a wild ride.
Here are some tips on what to look out for:
The most essential factor is the therapeutic relationship. Research has shown that regardless of the type of therapy used, the connection between you and your psychologist is responsible for up to 80% of the therapeutic gains. This means you need to like each other and be able to communicate well, and your therapist is someone who you can trust—someone you feel comfortable talking to about difficult subjects and intimate secrets, someone who will be a partner in your recovery.
Some factors you might consider are:
Gender — Do you think you’d feel more comfortable with a man or a woman?
Age — Do you want to work with someone older, younger, or around your age?
Religion — Does it matter to you if the therapist has a particular religious affiliation?
Also, consider The therapist’s area of expertise because Experience matters. One of the main reasons for seeing a therapist, rather than simply talking to a friend, is experience. Look for a therapist who is experienced in treating the problems that you have. Often, therapists have special areas of focus, such as depression or eating disorders. Experienced therapists have seen the problems you’re facing again and again, which broadens their view and gives them more insight. And for some problems, such as trauma or PTSD, seeing a specialist is absolutely essential.
It’s sometimes helpful to ask someone you trust for a recommendation, a friend, family member or your GP. However, it’s also important to trust your instincts – just because they clicked with someone doesn’t guarantee you will.
You should be able to tell within a session or two whether you and your therapist are a good fit. sometimes, you may like your therapist but feel that you aren’t making progress. It’s important to evaluate your progress to make sure you’re getting what you need from therapy. Don’t feel bad if you change therapists. Sometimes, for one reason or another, the therapist and the patient just don’t click. And that’s OK. It’s important to make sure you work with someone that you feel comfortable with, so you can get the most out of treatment.
A word of caution: There is no smooth, fast road to recovery. It’s a process that’s full of twists, turns, and the occasional backtrack. Sometimes, what originally seemed like a straightforward problem turns into a more complicated issue.
Big love,
Dani