Finding an Effective Therapist Part III
In Finding an Effective Therapist Part I, I focused on what an effective therapist means to me and provided some tips on how to get started with the search. In Part II, I let y’all know that I reached out to a former, effective therapist of mine, and I shared her tips for finding a therapist. Now, in Part III, I am going to talk about how I created my list.
It was important to me to find a therapist who specializes in both mood disorders and anxiety, specifically bipolar disorder and social anxiety, respectively. So, I included those terms in my search criteria on the Psychology Today website. If you wish, you can also narrow your search by gender, faith, types of therapy, etc. Although I would prefer a Christian woman counselor, as I am a Christian woman myself who appreciates when her therapist can combine faith values with treatment, I left my search pretty wide open.
Whether a therapist “made the list” rode heavily on what was written in his/her profile. And honestly, for the two who ended up on my list, I can’t really say what it was about their profiles that struck me; it just sounded right for me personally. They talked about transforming pain into joy, living a life of meaning, managing symptoms, and getting through together.
The third therapist on my list did not show up on my Psychology Today search (at least not on the first couple of pages); she was recommended to me. So, I looked up her practice on Psychology Today and sent a message to her as well as the other two. In my message, I provided my age and gender, my diagnosis, and what I am seeking therapy for. I also asked how much sessions are for someone who is self-pay.
I received two email responses and a phone call that same day. Ultimately, what it came down to for me was cost. The practice that was recommended to me used sliding scale fees based on income, so I gave them a call back. The specific therapist from that practice was recommended did not have any appointments for a while, but the administrative assistant whom I spoke with said they had just hired a new therapist who could see me more quickly. I filled out all of the required paperwork online, submitted it, and got an appointment the very next day.
I am very pleased with how the session went. She met every one of my criteria for an effective therapist, and we touched on so many relevant topics in just an hour. Her questions were very intentional and demonstrated that she was listening carefully. As I spoke, she encouraged me and let me know that I can overcome my struggles. She challenged me to be vulnerable by asking me about my childhood and my episode. She let me know that she is a Christian, too, and that she can care for me spiritually, mentally, and even physically, as one of the “homework” assignments she gave me was to develop an exercise routine. My other two assignments are to 1) identify the first time I felt overwhelming dread/anxiety in my life and 2) keep a sleep journal.
I see my therapist again in two weeks. She told me that it sounds like I am thriving in my life right now and that I am at a place where I am ready to accept help so that I can be the best version of myself. She is right.
How did you find your therapist? Are you satisfied with how he/she cares for you? If you don’t have a therapist, do you think you might benefit from seeing one? Drop your comments below!
Signed,
Lai
