HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT THERAPIST FOR YOU
Hello Fashionistas,
Let's talk mental health shall we?
Finding a therapist is not as intimidating as it seems. But finding the right therapist for you requires a little more work. I always encourage my patients to make sure they feel I am a right fit as their therapist because if I am not, it just won't work. What many people don't understand is that the therapeutic relationship is key to the success of treatment. Just like any other relationship, you should be able to trust and communicate with your therapist to build a strong alliance.
The question really is, how do you find the right therapist for you? There is no one answer. You have to first narrow down what is important for you.
Demographics such as age, gender, race and religion are usually important factors to take into consideration. If you are a teenager experiencing anxiety due to school and family issues, you might want a younger therapist you can feel more related to. If you are having relationship issues, depending on your gender, you might want a male or female therapist.
Length of treatment . You also want to consider the type of therapy you are looking for, short term ( just a few months) or long term (a couple of years). Some therapist only work short term while other focus on long term treatment.
Credentials: If you're looking for medication treatment you want to consider credentials. There are different types of providers that can offer therapy:
- Psychiatrists: medical doctors (MD or DO) who can prescribe medication to patients in addition to providing therapy.
- Psychologist: similar to psychiatrist but are unable to prescribe medication. Psychologists usually have a doctoral degree (Ph.D or Psy.D typically).
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker: LCSWs or LMSWs are master's level professionals that work in a wide variety of settings to provide emotional support, mental health evaluations, therapy, and case management services to people experiencing psychological, emotional, medical, social, and/or familial challenges. Clinical social workers are also unable to prescribe medication but usually work alongside a psychiatrist prescribes medication for their patients.
-Licensed Professional Counselor or Licensed Mental Health Counselor: An LPC or LMHC has a Master’s in Counseling, along with a great deal of training and state certification. Counselors like these can help people develop a better relationship with their mental health, learning strategies to cope with their emotions.
You will know you have found a good counselor for yourself when you feel comfortable with your counselor, can be open and honest with them. Roughly, you should stay with your therapist for at least a few sessions before deciding it’s not working out. That is, of course, unless they have crossed any clear lines, then therapy should be terminated immediately.
And finally, if it doesn't work out, its okay to switch therapists and "shop around" until you find the right one for you.
Reminder: Your therapist is not the expert. You are.
Looking for a therapist in NYC? Check NYC WELL to find any service.
Best,
Pamela