It can take someone weeks, months, even years before they pick up the phone and make that first call to a therapist. And when they do, they are often filled with a mix of feelings such as fear, shame, uncertainty, pain and hope; hope that this therapist, this stranger on the other end of the phone might be the one who can help them find the answers they are looking for to stop the struggle or suffering in their lives so they can live happier and healthier.
If you are someone you know may be contemplating seeking the help of a therapist, I strongly encourage sharing this recent NYTimes article about how to choose the right the therapist. The points the writer, Ms, Miller emphasizes here are so important to consider. Most important, that of finding chemistry with your therapist.
When we receive calls from new clients at our practice, especially if a client is seeking help for the first time, we encourage them to make appointments with 2-3 different therapists at different practices. In this way, the client has the opportunity to feel out different styles or approaches that the various therapists may offer and hopefully find the one that they gel with best.
The practice of therapy, despite training in similar techniques or modalities, is indeed an art form, and each therapist brings their unique person into the treatment room and into the therapeutic relationship. And although a particular therapist may have a breadth of knowledge or expertise in a given area, they may or may not be the best fit for a particular person struggling with said area of expertise.
Engaging in therapy requires a big investment on behalf of anyone in terms of their time, energy, their trust and of course their resources and finances. Therapy can be an incredibly powerful and life altering process and experience – as such it is a choice not to be made casually.
How to find the right therapist: https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/07/17/smarter-living/how-to-find-the-right-therapist.html
