Finding a Therapist
There are as many different types of therapists and figuring out which one is right for you can be confusing and frustrating. By learning all that you can about the different types of therapies available to you, you will have the knowledge and power to make the healthiest decision possible.
Psychotherapy involves talking to a trained professional about the issues and concerns you have about your health. It can involve one on one, couple, family or group psychotherapy. Psychotherapy involves an agreement between you and a health professional for the purpose of resolving the mood disorder and promoting the healing process.
You're on your way.
You've done a lot of work to get here. If you have any questions or concerns, please call us at MDAO. We'll be happy to support you through this complicated but important decision-making process.
Therapy can be the key to unlocking all of your hidden potential. You need to respect and trust your ability to choose the right counsellor for you. Once you've done that, the work may be difficult but you will succeed. You're worth it!
What kinds of therapists are there?
There are many different kinds of therapists available to you and the choice is a personal one, depending on what appeals to you and what your diagnosis is. Here are some of the most common types of health professionals offering therapy or counselling.
- Psychiatrists: medical doctors that specialize in psychiatric disorders
- Psychologists: trained professionals (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) that specialize in counselling and mental health issues
- General Practioners: some GPs are trained in psychotherapy
- Psychiatric Nurses: nurses who specialize in psychiatric disorders
- Social workers: trained professionals (usually BSW or MSW), some of who specialize in mental health issues
What should I look for in a therapist?
Remember that the therapist is actually working for you. The work that you do together must be done as a team if you are to be successful in your journey. Before you begin, make sure that you know what it is that you want. Here are a few things to keep in mind.
- How much can I afford to pay?
- How long do I want to be in therapy?
- Do I want therapy that is interactive?
- Do I want therapy that is more analytical and less interactive?
- Is the therapist's office in a location that I feel comfortable with?
- How often do I want to see the therapist?
There are a few good questions that you can ask. All therapists should be willing to answer them. If they won't, move on!
Buyer Beware!
There are lots of people who claim to be therapists but who do not have the credentials or professional memberships to support the claim.
When you are making your first exploratory phone calls, ask these questions:
- What's your education?
- What's your professional/ clinical training?
- Have you got experience in treating mood disorders?
- Are you a member of a professional association or college?
- How long have you been practicing?
- Do you have experience with my specific problem?
- How much are your fees?
- How many sessions do you think we will need?
- Can we work as a team to set the goals for my therapy?
- Do you have a waiting list?
Make sure that you write down the responses in order to review them later. As you ask the questions check how you feel about the responses. Your 'gut' feelings about the person on the other end of the phone shouldn't be ignored. Pay attention to the 'ease' or 'dis-ease' that you feel as you go through your checklist. A good thing to do is to rank your gut feeling from 1-5.
1- I felt really uncomfortable with this one.
2- I felt moderately comfortable with this one.
3- I felt comfortable with this one.
4- I felt very comfortable with this one.
5- This is the one for me.
Once you have ranked your gut feeling, review the other questions to make sure that the therapist is a fit. Now you can make an appointment.
How do I know if I have made the right choice?
You will know that the therapist that you have chosen is the right one within the first two to three sessions. Here are some questions to ask yourself after the first couple of sessions:
- Am I beginning to trust this therapist?
- Does the therapist seem to understand me?
- Do I feel at ease with the therapist even though it's a difficult situation?
- Are the fees okay?
- Is the location good?
- Do I feel comfortable in the therapist's office?
- Can the therapist accommodate my schedule needs?
- Do I feel that we make a good team?
- Do I feel heard?
- Do I feel supported?
Make sure that you feel comfortable. Remember, this is an important and courageous step that you have taken and you need to be on the journey with someone that you know you can count on.
If you don't feel that you and the therapist are a good fit, let him/her know. Some problems can be resolved but sometimes it's just a matter of "mismatched personality". This is no one's fault but will require you to find a different counsellor.
If you do need to find a new therapist ask your current therapist to help you by providing some names of other therapists. He/she should be able to accommodate this request.
How much will therapy cost me?
- Your provincial health insurance usually covers Psychiatrists and Medical Doctors.
- Psychologists and Clinical Social Workers aren't covered by provincial insurance but are often covered by private or company insurance policies.
- Fees can range from as low as $0.00 per hour at public agencies all the way up to $160+ per hour. Some therapists have a sliding fee scale.
It's important to know that there are lots of people who call themselves therapists or counsellors. The price for services isn't a gauge of the quality of service. You are the gauge and you will know which therapy fits best for you.
You can start your search for a therapist by talking with your doctor about your concerns and issues.You can search our resources database.
