Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I really believe I should see a therapist for various issues. What's the best way to choose a therapist? I don't want to ask family because I don't want them to know I'm in therapy. I also don't have a doctor I see regularly for a referral.
I don't want to just pick someone off the internet. What's the best way to find someone?
Actually, you can use the internet to look up the association for marriage and family therapists in your city - or social workers - whatever you prefer . . . then pick the ones that have specialties that appeal to you. Then call and talk to them and see who you "click" with. The internet is fine because they are all licensed (make sure they are).
In general, for run of the mill problems with relationships, work, home, etc., just search in the yellow pages for counseling.
Then beyond that, look for someone nearby and one which takes your insurance. If no insurance and on a budget, some county health departments offer low cost counseling (or call a couple of counselors and they may be able to give you a few phone numbers).
If your issues are highly complex, physical in nature, or something unusual, it would help if you could say a little about what those problems are, then people here could direct you to a specific type of therapist. Just like medical doctors can specialize in certain things like heart, sports medicine, old folks care, etc., so can therapists.
For example a psychiatrist is a medical doctor and can prescribe drugs, and psychologists / counselors don't typically prescribe drugs, but work with psychiatrists if drugs are needed.
Also for "general advice" about life's problems, you can talk to 5 or 6 different people about the issue, then most of them will suggest doing the same thing to resolve the problem - that is usually pretty good advice. But best if those people are not personally involved in the situation, are different ages, men/women, young/older, religious/not-religious, etc. (You get a wider range of experience from those different people.)
If it is covered by your health insurance, go on the website and do a search based on their area of expertise. If that's not applicable, do the same as an Internet search.
Also ask, how long have they been doing this; what interventions/methods do they use; how long before seeing results; what was their training; how many clients have they seen do this; what are the failures they've seen and what do they attribute this to; have they gotten certificates or supervision in this area; how many persons are they seeing like this now? Get a therapist like you find any other professional: ask specific questions. Most will give you 5 minutes of time and you should be able to 'feel' the fit through your phone interaction with them. Seeing them in person clinches the deal.
Also ask, how long have they been doing this; what interventions/methods do they use; how long before seeing results; what was their training; how many clients have they seen do this; what are the failures they've seen and what do they attribute this to; have they gotten certificates or supervision in this area; how many persons are they seeing like this now? Get a therapist like you find any other professional: ask specific questions. Most will give you 5 minutes of time and you should be able to 'feel' the fit through your phone interaction with them. Seeing them in person clinches the deal.
Ask the questions that are important to YOU. I would not care about any of the questions listed above and a lot of therapists would think you were a PITA if you gave that barrage.
Ask the questions that are important to YOU. I would not care about any of the questions listed above and a lot of therapists would think you were a PITA if you gave that barrage.
Good advice^^^
Also note that the therapist is trying to "figure you out" from the get go. If you ask questions someone else told you to ask, the therapist might be mislead as to what type of personality you have (that of the person suggesting you ask those questions and not your own personality!)
So best to be yourself. If that is not asking any questions, then do that. Or asking a few questions, do that. Or if you are the type to ask a lot of question, ask away!
(Or if asking questions someone else told you to ask, say "Someone else said I should ask these questions" or "I read somewhere I should ask these questions".)
After I had been seeing my therapist for a while, he asked me why I had chosen him. He was expanding his business (had started doing therapy on the side while he still held a full-time job) and wanted some insight.
I told him that first of all, I'd been given four names by the person on the phone from my health insurance as having some of the expertise that applied to my situation (marriage/relationship issues, dealing with alcoholism), and next that I'd chosen him out of the four because of his location, the fact that he had five letters in both his first and last names, and that I liked the sound of his voice on his answering machine.
He said, "I'd like to see how you would choose a heart surgeon."
After I had been seeing my therapist for a while, he asked me why I had chosen him. He was expanding his business (had started doing therapy on the side while he still held a full-time job) and wanted some insight.
I told him that first of all, I'd been given four names by the person on the phone from my health insurance as having some of the expertise that applied to my situation (marriage/relationship issues, dealing with alcoholism), and next that I'd chosen him out of the four because of his location, the fact that he had five letters in both his first and last names, and that I liked the sound of his voice on his answering machine.
Was he a good therapist? If yes, then you must have a good method of choosing!
Was he a good therapist? If yes, then you must have a good method of choosing!
Yes, he was great! LOL.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
