Looking for a Therapist
Since you're reading this perhaps you're hoping that if you can find the right therapist, then you're on your way to making things better for yourself.
Research shows that the better the fit between a client and the therapist, the better the outcome. It is generally the case that the majority of talented therapists will 'fit' with the majority of their clients, since what goes in to 'fit' is a tremendously important part of a therapist's training and even of their personhood.
So, what influences 'fit'? When you get down to it, it's hard to know, generally, because it depends on the two people and how they connect. Fit is a very individual matter. You may well have some ideas already about the qualities of the therapist you would like to find. Listen to your intuitions as they reside in you right now. What have you been telling yourself? Does gender of the therapist matter? Have you found a particular self-help book to be useful, which may have emphasized certain perspectives that appeal to you? Do you know about a particular therapeutic approach that seems to hold promise for you? Are you looking for advice and direction - would a solution-oriented approach seem appealing? Or do your concerns have a feel of being life-long. Take some time to see what you may be drawn to, to see what you're looking for.
In terms of training, there are three mental health professions - psychology, social work and psychiatry. The three mental health professions have regulatory Colleges that only license practitioners who meet high academic and competency standards, and which require ongoing training and compliance with professional standards of practice, for the protection of the public. Everyone has significant assurance of ethical and competent treatment from these Regulated Professions. These days, there seem to be few psychiatrists practicing psychotherapy, instead being busy with assessing the appropriateness and effectiveness of medications as a means of assisting mental health. (Until recently, anybody with any kind of training, or with virtually no training at all for that matter, could call themselves a psychotherapist and open up a psychotherapy practice. It's hard to believe, but true! There has recently come in to existence a possible College of Psychotherapists, which will include an array of pastoral and religious counsellors, and those who do not meet the requirements of the above professions.)
There are several sources that you can consult to get ideas of who you might work with. Your family physician may have some good familiarity with the work of Regulated Professionals in your community, and may recommend someone. Sometimes word of mouth is an effective way of learning the names of well-regarded therapists. There are listings in the yellow pages, and of course there is the internet. Have a look at the biographies of the therapists are Telka, Smith.
We would encourage you to be an empowered consumer. Think about it this way - you're hiring someone to help you in the most personal of ways with your life. If you want, it is completely appropriate to call someone with whom you are considering working, and request a telephone interview or even a personal contact. Here, you can talk briefly about your situation and ask any of the questions that have occurred to you before. Questions like, "How do you work with your clients?", "What would we do in our first appointment?" and "What areas of special interest do you have?" are good general questions, and they get the therapist talking so that you can form your own impressions. This can provide you with a feeling about 'fit' that you can't get in any other way.
L.S.
