Just the thought of sitting down with a relative stranger, sharing your deepest wounds and intimate experiences, can cause anxiety, fear, and doubt. Emotional problems, grief, substance abuse, and self-image issues can all be successfully processed during individual therapy. Even, though you may have decided to get help, picking someone to help you can be more important. A therapeutic arrangement is still a relationship. You must find someone that, sets you at ease, leads with generosity and maintains high standards.

A good therapist will want to complete a telephone call or meet for an initial consultation that may be free. Don’t get caught up on the free part, this step is essential because an excellent therapist specializes and possibly want to do an assessment, to see if he or she is a good fit and can meet your standard and needs.

How do you know if a therapist is a good fit?

• Ease of access.

• Location

• Availability

• Credentials

• Identity Demographics

• Areas of expertise etc.

Although they may be capable of helping just about anyone, an expert therapist is great at helping clients fix specific types of problems. If you and the therapist are not a good fit, it is better to know that sooner than later. They will usually have referral sources for the areas that they don’t specialize in, which is a win for you. Find a therapist who has experience with your type of issue, they will usually get you quicker results and help you to develop the skills to continue the growth after treatment is over.

This is one of the most important aspects of choosing a good therapist. Initially as described earlier, you may feel a bit overwhelmed, but what I have found is good therapists have a way of setting you at ease and getting into business in the very first session. You will feel like a weight has been lifted and you may even start believing you can resolve your issue. You will find that you are motivated to meet them and are eager to work. An issue that may complicate this dynamic is if you are being resistant and not challenging yourself to be transparent and go deeper. A good therapist will help you to feel more capable and be accepting of the process of change.

A good therapist will be empathetic and can see things from your point of view. A therapist is also a people helper, a good one will hold their judgements and take time to learn how and why you operate the way you do. They will find redeemable things in you and focus on the strengths that will help you succeed.

They will be human with you, encouraging you not to censor or embellish the facts. The first step in getting better is to accept what is, a good therapist will walk with you and support this essential work.

One thing that I will never forget from graduate school is that as a therapist, I am an expert with techniques and modalities, while the client is an expert on their story. The therapeutic relationship is a collaborative relationship of equals. Although the therapist is the professional, be careful not to look at them as a boss, a therapist is an advocate. They support the goals and objectives you want to accomplish. This is not to say that a good therapist won’t question your rationale and help you to look at the consequences of your actions. They will also accept your words and experiences, if they improperly reflect a thought or action, they will be willing to admit the fault openly. A good therapist is fallible, they know it and are not ashamed to be.

Don’t be confused. I started this piece explaining how a good therapist sets you at ease, there is another side to that coin. Through the relationship of trust that they build with you, a good therapist will confront you, hold you to high standards and remind you of your goals and objectives. This will cause tension at times, but as you work through the initial emotions of the situation and think logically you will realize that the therapist is actually fighting for you in areas you may be lacking insight. I believe one of the greatest gifts a good therapist can give a client is thought-provoking questions. I use them often and have found it is one of the best ways to help a client work through their problems more effectively.

The cost of therapy can be expensive. Therefore, finding a good therapist that meets your budget, can become challenging at times, especially if you have a limited budget. If you are financially constraint, here are a few things to consider when seeking therapy?

– What is your budget?

– Check your local mental health services for free and affordable healthcare.

– Does your mental health profession accept insurance

– Try to negotiate and ask for discounts

Please remember that your mental health should be a priority as your physical health, so don’t feel embarrassed for spending money on mental health care.

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By Odie Anderson | @SamaritanCounTC

I completed a master’s degree at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Florida. I have extensive experience in addictions, including work at a residential adolescent facility and at adult dual-diagnosis facilities. I specialized in helping couples in distress in a church-based counselling program, and I have enjoyed group facilitation. I am a certified Prepare-Enrich Facilitator and use Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy as my primary orientations.