If you are considering therapy there are some essential questions that you might consider to ensure the right fit for you.

What are their qualifications?

It is important when deciding on a therapist to understand the different credentials. 

A Psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can prescribe medication.  A Psychiatrist generally asks that you work with a psychotherapist in addition to the services he/she can provide. 

Psychologists are those with a Doctorate in psychology and who have completed an internship under supervision.

Counselors have typically obtained a Masters in Counseling and have also completed a supervised internship.

Clinical Social Workers have also obtained a Masters degree but in Social Work and have also completed a supervised internship. 

What is their fee?

Therapy can be an expensive process.  If you have medical insurance you may want to find a therapist through your insurance company.  If you do not have insurance you may be able to find a therapist who works on a sliding fee and will be able to help you based on the amount you are able to pay.  Another option for those without insurance is to go to your county mental health center where you can find both psychiatrists and psychotherapists who will work based on what you can afford.

What would my appointment schedule be?

It is necessary to find a time of day and day of the week that works for you.  For example; if you work during the day or are not a morning person the mornings may not be a good fit for you. 

Where are they located?

What experience do they have with my type of problem?

Different therapists have different specialties and areas of concentration.  It may be important to you to find a therapist who concentrates in Childhood Sexual Abuse or trauma work. 

What is their counseling approach?

When choosing a therapist it is important to understand the various counseling approaches so that you can choose one that best fits for you. 

Most therapists today practice Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.  CBT uses thoughts as a gateway to feelings and actions.  The idea is that when a person becomes aware of their thoughts and thought distortions they can alter their feelings and actions accordingly and live a healthier life.  CBT brings awareness to the thoughts that keep a person stuck in habitual patterns and often includes “homework” in between sessions. 

Humanistic Therapy emerged in the 1950’s and focuses on self actualization with an emphasis on self reflection, self examination and creative expression.  Pioneers in Humanistic Therapy include Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow. 

Psychoanalytic Therapy is one of the oldest forms of therapy, pioneered by Sigmund Freud.  Psychoanalytic Therapy is based on the idea that much of what happens in our life has its roots in the unconscious (the deepest level of consciousness).  The unconscious is said to hold traumatic memories, deepest wishes, desires and fears and painful emotions.  The work involved in PT may include dream work and free association (where you say the first thing that comes to mind).

The word "transpersonal" comes from the Latin "trans," meaning beyond and through, and "persona," meaning mask or personality.  Transpersonal Therapy focuses on the whole person.  The therapy is largely based around a person’s spirituality and using spirituality as a doorway to exploration of the Self.

Expressive Therapies include Art Therapy, Dance and Movement Therapy and Music and Sound Therapy.  These therapies are fairly straightforward; Art Therapy focuses on art and creativity as a means for healing and so on and so forth. 

EMDR emerged in 1987 and stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing.  EMDR was originally a technique to heal traumatic memories but has become more.   EMDR involves bringing up emotionally disturbing information and then using eye movement, hand tapping or audio stimulation to process the information in a new way. 

DBT stands for Dialectical Behavioral Therapy.  DBT was pioneered by Marsha Linehan as a means for treating Borderline Personality Disorder but has proved effective in other areas as well.  DBT specializes in four main areas:  Core Mindfulness Skills, Interpersonal Effectiveness Skills, Emotion Modulation Skills and Distress Tolerance Skills.