Going to Therapy in 2023? 4 Tips On What To Look For In A Therapist!
Happy New Year!
If you’ve decided to go to therapy in 2023, you’ve made one of the best decisions of the year (and dare I say, your life!).
Therapy will (hopefully) change the trajectory of your life for the better!
To get you on the right track, I’ve got a few tips to help you pick the right therapist for you!
Check Their Credentials.
At the risk of getting caught in a scam, it’s important you do your homework and check out credentials before booking a session with a therapist. You can also ask them about their credentials directly, or check from the regulatory college that they’re registered with.
Regulatory bodies typically allow the public access to registries where you can find general information on therapists that have been accredited, such as their business address, registration history, practice sites, and the language in which they offer psychotherapy services.
For Psychotherapists in Ontario, you can check the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario’s Public Register, or the Ontario College of Social Workers Public Register. You’ll just need to enter their first and/or last name, and their info will pop up.
Look For A Therapist That Offers Free Consultations.
Not every therapist is the best fit to support you, which is why it’s important to think of your needs prior to booking your first session.
A consultation is the perfect opportunity to have a feel for the person you’ll be opening up to, ask questions, and to think of what you’d like to get out of therapy.
It’s also easier to change therapists when you haven’t yet invested time and money in the process. You want to feel that your therapist is equipped to deal with your concerns, so give yourself the chance to explore that by putting your needs first.
Look For A Therapist That’ll Best Fit Your Needs.
Are you looking for a lot of feedback, coping strategies, someone who’s able to tell you like it is, or simply a listening ear? Those are simple yet important questions that could set the tone for your therapeutic relationship.
A good rapport is one of the most important factors for success in therapy. As such, you want to make sure that you’re comfortable with the person that you’ll be sharing important details of your life.
You’re investing a lot into this process and if you’re someone that has struggled with putting your needs first; this is an area where us therapists want you to think of what’s best for you!
Look For A Therapist That Challenges You.
Ideally, your therapist will notice patterns of behaviours that have been disruptive to you; they may bring them up in sessions and challenge you to adjust them to see if people’s responses towards you would change.
It’s important to take those inputs into consideration, as they’re coming from an objective point of view.
Simultaneously, you want to be able to provide feedback to your therapist, for the process to be as beneficial to you as possible.
If we’re suggesting something and you feel like it’s not working, it’s important and okay to tell us. This allows us to adjust, by taking into consideration your perspective and providing insight that best reflects your current situation.
I hope those 4 tips bring you more clarity as you start your therapy journey.
If you’re interested in reading more, check out the other blogs.
Interested in working with me? Get to know me a bit more, and if you think I would be a great fit, fill out the Contact Form to book a free 15-minute phone consultation.
Until next time!
