Finding the Right Therapist for You

Choosing to go to therapy can be a very daunting process, and not only in regards to sharing emotions and potentially dredging up some painful memories. The process of selecting your ideal therapist can be just as emotionally taxing as the therapy itself.

While there are many different components at play, such as availability and particular areas of focus, there are also many personal factors to take into consideration. Three such things to consider are how comfortable you feel in vulnerability with that person, if you feel your personalities or styles will mesh well, and if the therapist is able to balance supporting you and challenging you.

One of the most important things to consider in any therapeutic relationship is your own comfort. Sometimes, even if there is not necessarily a concrete reason, you may just feel uncomfortable divulging information to certain people. This should not necessarily be seen as negative - sometimes we just struggle to open up! So when choosing a therapist, it is okay to shop around! Be choosy.

Schedule some consults and find someone who you feel you will be able to be vulnerable with. It will not do you any good to be in a situation where you feel you cannot share what is bothering you. Furthermore, if you find that you think you are comfortable during the consultation but realize you are not later on, it is okay to voice that and potentially move on to another therapist. Any decent therapist just wants you to find the right fit for you - even if it is not them!

Another factor to consider in choosing a therapist is personality and therapeutic style. Much like when you are finding a therapist who you are comfortable with, you also need to find one with a personality that meshes well with your own. This does not necessarily mean that they are exactly the same as you but that you are able to complement each other.

Furthermore, therapeutic style can be a very important consideration to take into account. You may be looking for a therapist who tends to follow certain theorists or modalities (for example, someone who uses EMDR or creative arts therapies, etc.). It is okay to be picky about this! Some people have tried many different modalities of therapy, and none of them are one size fits all. If any therapies worked one-hundred percent of the time for all people, there would be no need for other options. It is okay to search for the one that works best for you, and keep looking until you find it!