A Guide to Finding the Right Mental Health Therapist (2023)

FAQs

Why is finding the right therapist so hard? ›

One of the primary reasons many people have difficulty finding the right therapist is due to a lack of specialization. Many practitioners focus primarily on anxiety and depression.

You can contact your healthcare provider for a referral; ask friends and acquaintances for recommendations; contact your insurance provider for referrals or search its website for a database of mental health professionals; or consult Psychology Today's directory of therapists.

Reasons, such as lack of trust or feeling misunderstood, may make you feel like therapy isn't helping. Here's how you can improve your experience. There are many reasons why therapy may not be working for you. Your therapist, the type of therapy they provide, and how they relate to you may be the reasons.

When therapy isn't enough, try asking your doctor for blood work, and ensure that you give them an accurate, detailed list of your symptoms. If you or a loved one needs help with behavioral health or drug & alcohol addiction, please find a facility that can can help as soon as possible.

Stated simply, the most important thing to look for in a therapist is the quality of the relationship that you have with them, otherwise known as the "therapeutic alliance." You can judge this by how comfortable you feel with the person.

Ask a therapist of interest for a consultation session to get a sense of what it would be like to work with them. Some things to look for are: you feel understood by them, you feel you'll be able to open up and speak freely with them, and you feel a sense of confidence that they can help you.

Counselors tend to offer short-term care, while therapists tend to offer long-term care. Therapists can be more past focused and counselors more future focused. Counselors often have a set number of sessions, and therapists often work on an ongoing basis. Therapists are more likely to treat mental health conditions.

What is the difference between a psychologist and a therapist? ›

Licensed therapists must have, at minimum, a master's degree in a field related to psychotherapy. Psychologists must have a doctorate-level degree such as a PhD or PsyD.

Ruth Wyatt, MA, LCSW: With therapy, there usually is no set length of treatment. Therapy can last anywhere from one session to several months or even years. It all depends on what you want and need.

A number of events or circumstances can be considered a crisis: life-threatening situations, such as natural disasters (such as an earthquake or tornado), sexual assault or other criminal victimization; medical illness; mental illness; thoughts of suicide or homicide; and loss or drastic changes in relationships (death ...

The bottom line

This could mean trying to have sex with you, often showing up late for appointments, talking about themselves too much, or answering text messages during your sessions. A bad therapist can prevent you from meeting your goals or can even harm your mental health.

Reasons you might have nothing to say in therapy

It could mean a lot of things. Having nothing to say doesn't mean that your problems have gone for good. Sometimes you've been working hard through some issues, and your brain needs a break. So it's kind of like the feeling when a computer shuts down for a little while.

Examples of poor boundaries from a therapist are: Dominating your session by talking about their personal problems or accomplishments — and then you're the one who has to give them advice! Pushing you to talk about things that you're not ready to talk about, such as your sex life or the details of past trauma.

In these instances, tears indicate that the person is at least temporarily giving up the struggle. Although this is commonly thought of as a “breakdown,” we optimistically consider it a potential breakthrough.

There are a few things that might contribute to this: you may not have developed the level of trust you need to feel safe with the therapist you are working with, you may be fearful of being judged by the therapist, or maybe you are afraid that opening the pain of the past might be too much to handle.

The short answer is that no, not everyone does cry in counseling. However, pretty much everyone who participates in counseling does explore very strong emotions and most clients will experience tears at some point in their therapy journey.

What are red flags in a therapist? ›

Red flags in therapy include violations of confidentiality, boundaries, and licensure, among others. Therapy can be ineffective when the therapist is unable to communicate or lacks the training to treat a patient's specific problem. Patients can raise concerns with their therapist directly.

A number of things could prompt a pause, but common reasons include financial concerns, health problems, schedule conflicts, lack or time, money, or a move. Sometimes the problem isn't with you, but with your therapist. Therapists are people, too — people who may relocate, retire, or take a medical leave.

Therapists do get frustrated with clients from time to time, but some can handle difficult clients better than others. This may be due to training or inherent personality traits.

Interestingly enough, patients and therapists often (but not always) agree on the quality of their relationship. However, it is the patient's perception of the quality of the relationship that is the strongest predictor of treatment success.

The most powerful of those common factors have been referred to as the “therapeutic alliance,” referring to the bond between client and therapist. Study after study has shown that the quality of the relationship between client and therapist is the only reliable and the most powerful predictor of a positive outcome.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is considered the gold standard in psychotherapy. Numerous clinical trials have found CBT to be effective for a spectrum of emotional health challenges, from anxiety and depression to addiction and schizophrenia.

Therapist Job Responsibilities:

Establishes positive, trusting rapport with patients. Diagnoses and treats mental health disorders. Creates individualized treatment plans according to patient needs and circumstances.

It's okay to ask your therapist about their life. Any questions you have in therapy are valid and are likely relevant to the therapeutic process. Whether your therapist answers the question and shares personal information can depend on their individual personality, philosophy, and approach to your treatment.

What to do when you can't trust your therapist? ›

It can take time and patience to hit your stride and to form a bond of trust. You do need to give your therapist a chance. It's recommended that you try four appointments (an assessment and three sessions) before making your mind up about whether you can trust your therapist.

What can I tell my therapist? The short answer is that you can tell your therapist anything – and they hope that you do. It's a good idea to share as much as possible, because that's the only way they can help you.

Maybe you're not seeing any results in your personal life, or maybe you feel awkward talking to them about certain issues. Whatever the case, there is nothing wrong with switching therapists in order to find someone who better suits your needs.

Many people have benefited from receiving concurrent mental health services from two therapists. Each therapist may provide a different service such as individual therapy, couples therapy, or group therapy. For example, you might see one therapist for individual therapy and another therapist for couples therapy.

There is no law that prohibits therapists from seeing two people who know each other, or even two members of the same family. In some small communities, there may not even be a choice. For example, a high school or college may only have one mental health therapist on-site.

The miracle question is a popular intervention in Solution-Focused Therapy. It asks the client to imagine and discuss a possible world where problems are removed and issues addressed (Strong & Pyle, 2009). The question may take various forms, such as asking the client, “Assume your problem has been solved.

THE BASICS

You'll be invited to speak openly. The therapist will listen and may take notes as you speak; some, like myself, take notes after a session. You won't be criticized, interrupted or judged as you speak. Your conversation will be kept in the strictest confidentiality.

On the other hand, therapists, while they can't prescribe medication, are licensed to assess, diagnose, and treat mental health issues — and they're usually much better equipped to diagnose emotional or behavioral disorders than your medical doctor would be since their education and training is focused on mental health ...

Good Psychotherapists Do, and Should, Go To Therapy. Many therapists go to therapy, as a standard practice, or at different junctures in their life. I would never refer a client to a therapist who had never been in extensive therapy.

Do I need Counselling or therapy? ›

Signs You May Need Private Therapy

Generally feeling overwhelmed with everything. Overthinking and feeling as though you're unable to 'switch off' from your thoughts. Feeling low and more tearful than usual. Getting angry more easily or struggling to regulate your emotions.

Psychologists can do research, which is a very important contribution academically and clinically, to the profession. A therapist is a broader umbrella term for professionals who are trained—and often licensed—to provide a variety of treatments and rehabilitation for people.

The reason for this is that mental health symptoms can affect self-care, vocational, life skills and relationship aspects of life. With all this being said, an accurate diagnosis for mental health disorders can take weeks to years to determine.

If you want to spend time talking about an issue and working through it in a one-on-one session, a psychologist might be a good fit. If you're interested in pursuing psychiatric medication for symptom relief for a mental health disorder, you may want to start by talking with a psychiatrist.

There are three things you should feel if your therapist is right for you: safety, competence, and a sense of connection. Safety — You should feel like you can be yourself and honest. Your therapist should create a judgment-free zone where you can freely express what you feel and think.

You have specific rights when disclosing your diagnosis as a client receiving therapy. For example, it's your right to ask your therapist to tell you if they believe you have a mental health condition. If you want a diagnosis, you can ask your therapist upfront.

Therapists require master degrees and approval of their licensing boards to practice in the mental health field. Therapists provide mental health diagnosis and develop a treatment plan.

BPD is one of the most commonly misdiagnosed mental health conditions. It's so misdiagnosed, in fact, that there isn't even an accurate prevalence rate for the condition.

What are 3 different types of treatments for most mental illness? ›

Some of these topics include feeling incompetent; making mistakes; getting caught off guard by fee entanglements; becoming enraged at patients; managing illness; understanding sexual arousal and impulses; praying with patients as part of therapy; feeling ashamed; being fired; and not knowing what to do.

Back to Fictional Reader's question about why it may be difficult to look a therapist in the eyes. Some possible root causes range from guilt, shame, anxiety, low self-esteem, shyness, past abuse, depression or autistic spectrum disorders to varying cultural norms and cognitive overload.

Your therapist's relationship with you exists between sessions, even if you don't communicate with each other. She thinks of your conversations, as well, continuing to reflect on key moments as the week unfolds. She may even reconsider an opinion she had or an intervention she made during a session.