Choose a Therapist

I hit the jackpot in the therapist department.

When I was a little girl, we lived in a three-bedroom rambler.

The entry way had a half brick wall.

It looked over into the living room or front room.

I would spend hours pretending that I was a contestant on The Price is Right.

I would stand behind the brick wall and (of course) win every time.

Then, I would walk right into the living room and pretend like I was playing Plinko, and (of course) win every time.

That is exactly how I feel about my therapist.

She is tough.

She is firm.

She is all about me doing all the work needed, especially when it is hard.

Her testimony and knowledge of the scriptures is out of this world.

She is fully aware that she is stuck with me for the LONG haul...

And she keeps letting me come back.

This week is the first week that we are not scheduling.

We are going to try to do every other week and see how it goes.

I am four months into counseling, and a lifetime away from where I was then.

Here are five tips for choosing the right therapist for you:

1. Research, research, research - you want to make sure that you are choosing a therapist who specializes in the therapy that you will need, and the topics you need to cover. It's also so important to make sure it is a right fit for you.

2. Look at experience - you would not choose an opthamologist for your cancer. Likewise, you need to choose a therapist who has experience in your own unique issues.

3. Try to make an early connection - See if the therapist you are looking into does consultations. Ask them questions about their treatment philosophy, how they have worked to help others and how they feel they can help you. When you leave, assess how comfortable you were, what you thought about their treatment technique, etc.

4. Check licensing and insurance - therapy is expensive. Make sure your insurance will cover your appointments. Also, make sure they are actually licensed!

5. Never, ever settle. If you are not comfortable with the therapist you have chosen, never hesitate to change therapists. You should feel comfortable and accepted.