It takes so much courage to decide to go to therapy, and then after you make that decision, it can be daunting to try to find a therapist. There are various titles and credentials that are confusing, and how do you know if the therapist will be able to provide what you are looking for? Let's be honest, therapy can be expensive, so you want to make sure it is worth the investment, especially when you are paying out-of-pocket. So, here's a little guide to help you find a therapist the fits well with you.
First, what do all those titles and letters behind therapists' names mean?
Psychotherapist/Counsellor: These are essentially the same, as both provide talk therapy, but it depends what province you live in. In unregulated provinces (BC,AB,SK,MB), anyone can use these titles, but in regulated provinces, only those who are registered can. If you live in an unregulated province, make sure your therapist has a Master's degree in counselling/therapy/social work.
Psychologist: Psychologists usually have doctoral degrees in psychology or counselling psychology. In addition to providing therapy, psychologists can diagnose, unlike psychotherapists. This is why psychologists often have longer waitlists and higher fees. Some provinces, like AB, allow those with Master's degrees to be psychologists; they will have R.Psych behind their name.
Psychiatrist: A psychiatrist is a medical doctor that specializes in mental health; they usually work in hospitals and can diagnose and prescribe medication.
Marriage & Family Therapist: A marriage and family therapist has a degree in marriage and family therapy and is a part of an MFT association, like the Canadian Association for Marriage & Family Therapy (CAMFT). If a therapist has RMFT behind their name, it means they are a registered marriage & family therapist, which means they have met the rigorous requirements to receive this designation, which is the highest designation for MFTs.
Canadian Certified Counsellor (C.C.C.): This means the therapist is a certified counsellor with the Canadian Counselling & Psychotherapy Association (CCPA); therapists must meet specific criteria to receive this designation.
Although there is no guarantee you will find a great match right away, here are some things to consider to help you find the best therapist for you:
They offer session times that work for you.
Not all therapists offer evenings and weekends, but that may be the only time you are available. Other therapists may offer early morning sessions you can attend before work, but many work typical daytime hours. Ask what hours the therapist works to see if your schedules align.
They accept your insurance or have rates that you can afford.
Check that your insurance company covers therapy fees. Most therapists do not offer direct billing, so it is usually your responsibility to communicate with your insurance company. Ask the therapist what their title is, as some insurance companies only cover psychologists and social workers, while others only cover psychotherapy if the therapist has specific designations.
If you do not have insurance coverage, ask about their rates. Therapy rates can vary, so find someone that is within your price range or have a plan for how often you can afford to attend. Your therapist is likely more than willing to discuss this with you, and some may offer reduced rates.
They have experience or training working with what you want to talk about.
There are various applications for therapy and approaches to therapy. All therapists cannot be skilled in all topics. If you want to talk about a very specific issue, and want someone who understands the topic well, ask if they've worked with that issue before or look at their Psychology Today profile or website to see if they mention that topic. Although therapists try to continuously learn and grow in competence, they do not specialize in all topics.
They offer the kind of therapy you are interested in.
What kind of therapy are you looking for? Do you want to meet online or in-person? Nowadays, many therapists offer exclusively online therapy, so make sure to double check the website if you are looking for in-person therapy.
Are you wanting relationship therapy, like couples, family, or pre-marital? Not all therapists offer this. Usually, therapists who have a degree in Marriage & Family Therapy offer these services, but other therapists may not have any training in working with couples and families.
Do you want a specific approach to therapy? Are you looking for EMDR to work through trauma? Are you wanting sex therapy? What about emotionally-focus therapy for couples? There are more than 50 different approaches to therapy, and most therapists only use a handful. If you want a specific approach, ask if the therapist uses that approach.
They show empathy & listen well.
Whether in a first session or free consultation, notice how well the therapist listens and expresses empathy to what you're discussing. If you don't feel heard and understood, therapy won't be successful. There are various reasons a therapist may not be empathic or listen well. Perhaps, your personalities clash a lot or the therapist is experiencing counter-transference, which is when your story brings up emotions within them. For instance, your story might be very similar to their own story, which can trigger feelings within the therapist that may make it difficult for them to focus on you. Unfortunately, there are also bad therapists. Essentially, if you don't feel heard and accepted, it's not a good fit for you.
You feel a connection with them that allows you to open up and talk about what's going on.
Like the last point, how you feel about the therapist is the most important aspect of therapy. Studies have shown that how connected you feel with your therapist is the most important factor in therapy being successful! Therapists can't be a good for every client, and we know this. If you don't feel a connection with your therapist, find one that you do connect with.
The general rule is that it takes 1-3 sessions to determine if your therapist is a good fit for you or not; if you are still uncertain about your therapist after three sessions, it may be worth trying someone new. Most therapists want you to find someone who fits well with you and are not offended if they aren't a good fit; they will likely have recommendations to help you find someone you connect with better.
Finding a therapist that you fit with can be tricky sometimes, but many therapists offer free consultations where you can ask them any questions you have and see if you connect well with them. These consultations are risk-free and only take about 15-20 minutes of your time. Hopefully, this helps you find a therapist that you connect well with.
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