How to Find a Good Therapist

Finding a good therapist can feel a tad daunting but I have you covered with my tips and considerations below.

Finding a good therapist is as important as finding a good doctor or accountant.  You will be sharing intimate details of your life with this person and they will be supporting you to heal and create meaningful change in your life.  Your therapist can fast become quite a significant person in your life so choosing someone that will support you in the way you need is imperative.  

I remember my first experience seeing a therapist, I was in my very early 20’s…I didn’t know what was wrong with me at that point in my life.  I just wanted to disappear from the world because it was too painful for me. My doctor recommended I see a therapist and gave me a list of therapists to choose from.  I made a few phone calls and settled on a therapist.  At my first appointment the therapist asked me what was happening for me.  I explained how I was feeling…She told me I would be easy to fix and that she has clients who had experienced far worse than I had…  “F%$k, then why do I feel so terribly miserable” I thought.  The therapist also kept looking at her notes before she used my name.  I felt worse.  Not only did I feel like the therapist couldn’t remember my name despite the fact I was talking to her about my deepest fears but I also felt my experience was really devalued.  I felt like maybe I was never going to feel better again.  I didn’t go back.  The next time I visited my doctor, she recommended I try a counsellor she had met at a networking function.  This therapist worked with a different framework, she was warm, caring and I felt like I mattered to her.  I stayed with that therapist for years. 

You are important.  And the thing/s that are sitting with you heavily or that you’re struggling with matter.  You deserve to sit with someone who listens, who is impacted by your story and who allows you to feel empowered about your life once again!  You also want to start feeling like the therapy is supporting you and you are starting to develop greater insight in to the way you do your life. 

I’m pretty passionate about this, which is why I always like to talk to my potential clients for a chat before our first appointment so they can get a feel for me and ask me any questions. 

I have jotted down some tips to find a good therapist below.

What is a good therapist for you? 

Firstly, you need to determine what it is that you need in a therapist.  There are different modalities including counsellors, psychologists, psychoanalysts, psychotherapists (I’m a Gestalt psychotherapist) and there are more out there, I’m sure.  Each modality works differently with their clients so it’s important to ask your therapist how they work and how they would work with your particular thing.  

Have a think about whether you would prefer a male or female.  If you would like the therapist to support you to access the answers within you or would you prefer someone to tell you what they believe would be best for your situation. 

Below are some questions you might want to ask your potential therapist:

·      What kind of therapy do you practice? 

·      What might this look like in a session? 

·      What are your interest areas/areas of expertise?

·      Do you have experience working with people who have had similar experiences?  

Qualifications and Registration

Not all therapists are created equally, so it’s important to know what their qualifications are and if they are registered with an association like Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) or Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA).  When your therapist is registered, you will know they have completed appropriate training, have the qualifications and they are obliged to seek out a particular number of hours of professional supervision and professional development. This way, your therapist can continue to offer you great support because they are deepening their skills and constantly learning.  

Most therapists will have all of this information on their websites.  You can check out my qualifications and registrations here https://www.biannkabrannigan.com/about

Comfortability and Warmth Factor

This is also critical.  You want to feel comfortable with your therapist otherwise you aren’t going to feel ok-enough to talk about your deepest, darkest.  Most therapists are caring people and have loads of warmth and empathy to offer you – but there are some exceptions.  So, check out their website and have a discussion with them before you make an appointment.  You can also let the therapist know that you will make a decision if you want to continue with them after the first session.  They will totally understand. 

It’s also important that you feel this therapist is not judging you in any way and if you do feel judged, you can let your therapist know and have a discussion about it. 

I hope these couple of tips have helped you to find a therapist that is the best suited for you and your needs.  

I offer Gestalt psychotherapy and Counselling based in Kuranda, FNQ for face-to-face sessions and also offer virtual sessions. Give me a call to have a quick chat about how I might be a good fit for you or check out my website http://www.biannkabrannigan.com

 Photo by Sebastian Unrau on Unsplash