| There will come a time in life (if it has not happened | | | | logical place to start when looking for a therapist is |
| already) when it could be beneficial to talk to an | | | | your health insurance company's online directory. Read |
| outside, objective person in order to solve a problem. | | | | several profiles to understand the theoretical |
| A psychotherapist is trained to help empower you to | | | | philosophy of each therapist and his or her specific |
| find solutions to life's dilemmas and enable you to live | | | | training. Call those you think might be a good match |
| your best life. | | | | and ask if they offer a free consultation to better |
| A psychotherapist is a trained, mental health | | | | judge therapeutic fit. Look at each therapist's personal |
| professional, able to diagnose and treat mental illness | | | | website for more information. All of this research may |
| and equipped to help you develop personal insight, | | | | seem like a hassle, but choosing the best therapist for |
| cope with life's dilemmas, solve problems, and | | | | you is imperative, because once you get started with |
| strengthen your relationships. There are many types of | | | | a therapist, you will find it more of a hassle to start all |
| psychotherapists, so how do you go about selecting | | | | over and repeat your story to someone new if the |
| the best one for your? | | | | first one doesn't work out. |
| First, you must feel you can trust the therapist with | | | | Here are some other questions to consider when |
| your inner most thoughts and feelings. She should | | | | deciding on a mental health professional: |
| exhibit warmth and empathy. She should be skilled at | | | | - If you need family therapy, marital counseling, |
| listening and be willing to offer compassion, | | | | premarital counseling, a support group, or a child |
| demonstrate authenticity, and hopefully, have a sense | | | | evaluation, does the professional have specialized |
| of humor. Psychotherapists are people with their own | | | | experience and education in this area? |
| personalities, just like clients, so look for one that you | | | | - Is the therapist recognized by your state's licensing |
| connect with--one you believe understands you and | | | | board? Who holds the therapist accountable? |
| your unique situation. | | | | - Does the therapist seem honest and non-defensive? |
| Psychotherapists will either have a master's or a | | | | Empathic and safe? Non-judgmental? |
| doctorate degree. Look for the initials M.S. (master of | | | | - Is the therapist willing to answer questions about his |
| science), M.A. (master of arts), PhD (doctorate of | | | | approach to care? |
| philosophy), PsyD (doctorate of psychology), ARNP | | | | - Is the therapist open to your input, especially |
| (advanced registered nurse practitioner), or MD | | | | concerning your goals for therapy? |
| (medical doctor). Other initials behind the therapist's | | | | - Does the therapist seem practical and sensible in her |
| name indicate license. These include LMFT (licensed | | | | approach? |
| marriage and family therapist), LCMFT (licensed clinical | | | | - Does the therapist offer hope, support, |
| marriage and family therapist), LSCSW (licensed | | | | encouragement? Do you feel empowered to make |
| specialist clinical social worker), LMLP (licensed master | | | | your own decisions regarding your own life? |
| level psychologist), or LPC (licensed professional | | | | - Does the therapist discuss how she has assessed |
| counselor). | | | | your mental health and your goals for therapy, as well |
| In addition to these licenses, psychotherapists will | | | | as her strategies for treatment? |
| generally have specialties. For example, some, like | | | | - Are you clear concerning the fee |
| marriage and family therapists, have more training than | | | | arrangement--session charge, insurance coverage, |
| most in relationships. MFTs, therefore, often prefer to | | | | copay, payment method? |
| work with more than one client in the room at a time. | | | | Remember, therapists are not miracle workers; |
| Others' training is based in individual therapy. Therefore, | | | | psychotherapy is not a mysterious process. When you |
| some therapists hope to uncover what is going wrong | | | | decide to seek help, you are looking for practical |
| inside the patient (anxiety, depression, grief, etc.), while | | | | solutions to life's problems with the help of someone |
| others are looking for what is wrong between people | | | | who is not connected to you and can therefore be |
| in relationships (conflict, communication difficulties, | | | | object. Psychotherapy is a process. Problems are not |
| boundary issues, etc.). Psychologists perform | | | | fixed in one session and will require persistence from |
| psychological testing, while psychiatric nurse | | | | you and the therapist. |
| practitioners and psychiatrists can prescribe | | | | Significant benefits can be gained through |
| medications. Keep these specialty differences in mind | | | | psychotherapy. The tools you gain can be used |
| when considering which therapist is best for you. | | | | throughout a lifetime. After finding the therapist who is |
| Most psychotherapists have an online presence today. | | | | right for you, psychotherapy can be an opportunity to |
| And each contracts with different insurance | | | | face the crises of life and convert them to |
| companies to provide care for clients. Therefore, a | | | | opportunities for personal growth and family renewal. |