Starting therapy: How do you pick your therapist?
You’ve made the decision that therapy is for you and now you need to find your therapist, how do you go about find the right one to work with?
If you have decided that you have the time and money to engage with a therapist who runs a private practice, you will find that many of us have a degree of web presence and are easy to reach.
I would suggest that you start searching on the internet and base that around the most suitable location for. Therapists tend to operate through a long working day; many will offer appointments before, during and after normal office hours so you should be able to work with someone in your area at the time of day you feel most comfortable with.
I say should because it seems sensible to say that the most sought after sessions are usually before and after work and you may find that some therapists have a waiting list for these sessions. Some level of give and take may be necessary to find a day and time that works for you and when the therapist is available.
Picking the right type of therapist can seem daunting. Many labels are attached to a therapist professional qualifications and area of theoretical orientation. If you have the time and space to be able to do some research beforehand that might help, however I would recommend asking when you first speak to your therapist how they work, what sort of qualifications they have, whether they are a member of any professional bodies and how long they have been in practice.
You will find that most therapists are qualified to at least graduate level; many are holding post graduate qualifications and are members of a profession body such as The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy or the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy. Both these bodies publish codes of practices and ethical standards that there members uphold.
The therapist will ask you why you want to engage with someone, should explain how their fee structure works and if they have space to take you on will probably recommend an initial session. This session will give you a chance to speak about what you what to work on and gives you and the therapist time to decide whether you can work with each other. It is worth mentioning that many therapists will, in an initial session, ask about your family background,
Therapists will have a contract that offered to a client which covers, your confidentiality, fees, dates and times, duration of therapy, what happens when you are on holiday, how to cancel sessions and terminate your therapy. It isn’t unusual for a therapist to ask permission from a client to contact your GP should the need arise or ask whether you are taking any prescribed medications. Some contracts may include a clause stating that the therapist will not work with you if arrive for a session under the influence of narcotics or alcohol.
In many ways I’m sure that what I written sounds like a lot to hold on to, ask and absorb. I think it is important enough to bring up because what you are doing at this stage is forming a relationship unlike another that you have had before and it makes sense to have a set of boundaries around this.
You will know where you stand and what the implications of your actions are rather than guessing at the outcome or effect on this relationship. It will make sense as you and your therapist work together, creating a space in your life that feels safe and confidential for you to work on how you relate to yourself and the outside world.
