There is an unfair stigma against those of us who hope to improve our lives by going to therapy. Thanks to a few television shows and general misconceptions, many people wrongly associate therapy with something directly wrong with the person getting help. This couldn’t be further from the truth.
Although some types of therapy might help people deal with some serious issues, therapy can certainly benefit everyone. According to the Aviva Health of the Nation Index, in 2012, a total of 202 GPs reported that 84% of their appointments where because their patients felt stressed out. From billionaire CEOs to struggling high school seniors, therapy can help us better understand our lives and how to make the most out of them.
The important next step, then, would be to find the perfect therapist for you. There are an abundance of therapists out there, but, unfortunately, there are a lot of under qualified or inexperienced therapists. That’s why it’s important to know how to find the best therapist for you and your specific life situation.
Here are a few tips on how to find the right therapist for you.
Know what types of therapy you need
Whether you need therapy for anxiety, general life advice, motivation for a healthier lifestyle, cognitive behavior therapy service, or many other types, it’s important that you at least identify what type of therapy you’re looking for. You don’t have to determine this right away and can actually work with various therapists to find any underling issues that you might want to have addressed, but knowing at least the general direction you want your therapy to go will at help you find several potential therapist options.
Do plenty of online research
Visit websites, social media pages, forums, and directly contact anyone who is open about seeing that particular therapist. Surely they won’t discuss intimate details about their conversations, but you might at least get a general idea of how effective that therapist was. As long as you do research beforehand, you should be able to narrow down your search to a few quality options.
Visit a few therapists until you know who will help you
Lastly, don’t be afraid to visit two or three therapists to find out what style of therapy works best for you. It’s nothing against one therapist or another, but some people just aren’t good matches for each other. You’ll never truly know if a therapist is right for you if you don’t meet with them at least once.
