CHOOSING THE RIGHT THERAPIST

Many of us spend more time picking out that right electronics gadget or the perfect outfit than seeking out our therapist. Credentials and degrees are important, but what matters more is a therapist's ability to connect with you on a personal level, and their ability to help create positive change in your life.

Most would agree that experience and training are more important that the degree than the degree one holds when it comes to practicing psychotherapy. Having a doctorate, good research and writing skills may have little to do with a therapist's ability to help you. It's often best to shop around a bit and find someone who feels like a "good fit" -- someone who you feel you could share your innermost feelings with.

These are some things to keep in mind when you are shopping for a therapist:

• Do you feel relatively comfortable with the therapist?
• Do you feel like the therapist is somebody you could trust with your feelings?
• Do you feel you validated and that you are being heard?
• Do you feel the therapist is empathic and that they care about you?
• Do you feel that the therapist is trying to understand you?
• Does the therapist's style fit with what you are looking for?
• Is the therapist sufficiently interactive?
• Does the therapist collaborate with you to set the goals of therapy or are they secretive about your treatment plan?
• Is the therapist culturally sensitive to your ethnic background or sexual orientation?
• Does the therapist present as professional and have appropriate boundaries?
• Is the therapist up front about fees?

If the answer is "no" to these questions, you might want to keep shopping.

These are all important issues in choosing a therapist. A good rule of thumb is if you're not feeling a connection by the third session, maybe try someone else-but be sure to discuss this openly with your therapist before moving on as this is an important part of the process. Contact Michael today for a no obligation free phone consultation.

Michael T. Halyard, MS, MFT
Individual & Couple Psychotherapy
(415) 642-4662

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