How do I choose a therapist?
How do I choose a therapist?
The short answer is, It’s all about the connection with the therapist. Give it 3 sessions, and, if at the end of that, you do not feel heard, understood, and that there might be some hope of dealing with this thing to make life better, it’s time to move on and try someone else.
There are many different types of mental health therapists out there. CBT, DBT, Behavioral, Transcendental, Eclectic, Rogerian, etc… And many of them disagree passionately about what makes people do what they do, and the best ways to help them. Some are more “evidence based” than others, and some genuinely are the preferred approaches to various issues. Yet, the research on efficacy of therapy does not show any clear “winner.” It seems that they all work when there is a good relationship, a good fit, between helper and helpee. The research found that the chances of success for therapy can be predicted by the strength of the “therapeutic relationship.” It turns out that when you have someone who truly listens to you, seems to get where you are coming from, and is willing to work with you to sort out whatever you have got going on, that’s what helps.
We believe that we have the tools to help most people, but we also recognize that we will not be able to provide that best fit for everyone. It is more important to us that you find the help that works best for you than that our schedule stays full. So, if, at the end of 3 sessions, you are not feeling heard, understood, and that we have a good chance of sorting this thing out and making life better, let us know, and we will work with you to find someone who can.
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