Tips to finding the right therapist for you!
The first thing that anyone searching for mental health support should know is that it takes great courage to begin to seek help. Take time to search through available therapists. You have the right to consult with a therapist and determine if they are a right fit for you. Most therapists offer a 15 - 20 minute free consult, if not ask for one! Not every therapist is right for every client. When we are struggling we want relief and because we are in an immediate need it may be hard to take the time to search for a good fit. It is also perfectly acceptable to begin with a therapist and after a few sessions if you determine they are not what you need, you can change to another provider. There are so many different types of therapy available, from more traditional psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral talk therapies, to art, music, drama, yoga therapy and more, that engage of our senses.
We have to remember that many of our choices for a mental health provider may be predetermined based on our insurance and who is within that network as well as open / available for new clients. That said, the cost of your mental health is priceless, so when you are not able to find a provider within your insurance please consider partnering with an out of network provider. The therapist who is not in network may be able to provide you with a superbill that you may submit for possible reimbursement from your insurance company. Every plan is different and in order to truly know your mental health benefits it is important to call or look on line for your behavioral health benefits specific to your personal plan
During your initial sessions with a therapist, remember, this is a service for you ! You have the right to ask questions, to guide goals and ask for clarification. If you are new to therapy, you may be shy to ask questions. It may be helpful to think of the client-therapist exchange like a relationship, a two-way street that works best with clear communication. Oftentimes clients new to therapy come to the therapist as they would a medical doctor looking for advice and placing power in the hands of the doctor. While therapist have guidance and support to offer, the most constructive and healthy therapeutic relationships occur when the client is active and participating in the direction of goal setting in the therapeutic process. Once goals are set, the therapist and client can set dates to review progress, oftentimes progress can be easily measured and shared through simple assessment tools such as the Beck Depression or Anxiety Inventories.
If you are currently in therapy and feel stagnant but do not know how to approach “breaking up" with your therapist, ask them for a clinical review of progress. This can set in motion a point of discussion to understand where you have been, how you have grown and allow communication about the future of the current therapy. This is your vulnerable, emotional life on the line ! Sometimes we spend more time debating on what shoes to what to eat for lunch than for our inner well-being needs. Take stock of your special emotional needs, understand your behavioral health insurance plan options, don’t be afraid to pay out of pocket to see the best therapist for you, explore your options by being willing to change from a therapist no longer serving you. This is your unique inner life, demand the best care and continue to heal and grow.
Corinne Arlès, LPC - Texas; LCAT - Licensed Creative Arts Therapist New York www.curatesse.com