Tips for choosing a therapist

Here are some points to consider when choosing a therapist. Taking your time to consider this may be worthwhile in the long run. When we are in a crisis we often feel like we do not have the time; however, having made the decision to get help often creates a sense of relief. Talking to several counsellors can provide you with some helpful feedback.

The therapeutic relationship is a unique one. You are going to explore yourself and your life – you may feel vulnerable and uncomfortable at times. It is important that you feel respected and safe in doing this. In addition, not everyone is going to connect with a particular counsellor. We all have different styles and personalities that come into play.

Read article Fears about starting therapy.

Research shows the most important factor in determining a positive outcome in therapy is the relationship with the therapist. The therapist's ability to develop a trusting, healthy relationship with you is more important than any techniques or theoretical approach they may be using.

Here are some pointers in choosing a therapist:

Initial Contact

Phone contact: have a number of questions ready before hand. Typical questions center around qualifications and training, approach to counselling, availability and fees as well as specific questions related to your goals. No question is a bad question. Talking to several therapists will give you a sense of each and help you select whom you want to meet. Trust your intuition. You do not have to make an appointment immediately; you may want to take a day to digest the information.

Contact in person: once you chosen at least two counsellors you want to meet, use this meeting to get a further sense of the person and how they work, respond to you, and whether you can learn something from them. It is normal to feel uncomfortable or nervous. The most important things at this point are to feel they have connected with you, that you  feel confidence in them, and that they are caring and sincere.

Registered with a professional body

If someone is registered with a professional association it means they are legally accountable, have to abide by a code of ethics, and are covered by liability insurance.The main designations that you will see are Registered Clinical Counsellor, Certified Canadian Counsellor, Registered Social Worker and Registered Psychologist. To become registered with any of these associations the therapist must hold a minimum of a Masters Degree, and a Registered Psychologist must hold a Phd. Whomever you choose should have several years of supervised training and experience.

Is the cost reasonable ?

Therapists charge a fee for their service. Some extended medical health plans will reimburse some therapy expenses; some employee assistance programs provide limited reimbursement or direct coverage. Be sure to check with your service provider.

Each registration body recommends a standard fee. For Registered Psychologists it is $150 and for Registered Clinical Counsellors it is $85 – $100. A counsellor's experience is an important factor in determining fees, as are training and degrees.

You can consider therapy fees to be an important investment in yourself. Our society generally undervalues emotional health. Sometimes people who have been victimized can resent paying for counselling because they see their emotional difficulty as someone else's responsibility. Determining your priorities and making a commitment to your health may mean having to examine some of these influences and values. It seems that people will put money into short term methods of coping such as, alcohol, cigarettes or shopping. Counselling may take longer but can make a lasting difference.

What theoretical orientation and approach does the cousellor employ?

It may be important to you to check out the counselling approach to see if it makes sense to you. In addition, the type of clients the counsellor has had experience with may also be important to you. For example, if you are lesbian or gay, you may want to know that your therapist is open to your orientation and can work with same-sex couples.

Is the counsellor continuing his or her education?

The work of counselling is personally challenging. As counsellors we are engaged in a very personal relationship, that is, we have to be aware of our own reactions and responses to our clients in order to be present and centered. The more we learn about ourselves the easier that is. You will sense if your counsellor is at ease with him or herself. It is not about being perfect, no-one is, and your therapist won't be either! 

Do not be afraid to ask the therapist these questions and any others that are important to you. Having said this, the most important thing is to trust your intuition. Someone can seem like a 'fit' with all the right things on paper, but if you don't click with him or her the therapeutic relationship is going to be hard to establish.