How to find an effective therapist

Perhaps you seek greater intimacy with your partner or are looking for ways to increase feelings of happiness...now what? Who's going to help you along the way? Working with a qualified professional to reach personal goals is a growing trend for many individuals, couples, and families.

Finding an effective therapist is an important step in the overall therapy process. However, looking for a therapist to work with you can be tricky. If you are going to share personal information about yourself, you want to build a trustworthy relationship, right?

Educate yourself on who you are going to work with by keeping the following 5 things in mind.
5 things to consider when finding a professional therapist

1. Do your homework.
2. Figure out what all the letters behind his or her name mean.
3. Give him or her a call. Your initial over-the-phone conversation should be brief, but enough for you to get a feel if you can work with this person.
4. Don't get discouraged if you don't instantly connect, but trust your intuition.
5. You should feel heard and supported as you work towards your overall goals.

Online searches are becoming the primary source to connecting yourself to the resources around you. Many professional counselors and therapists have websites to educate you about their practice and the services you will receive from them. Thoroughly read his or her website. Do you like what you see? Does the therapist communicate clearly via his or her website? Learn about policies, fees, and payment. Another way to learn about helping professionals in your community is by word-of-mouth or referrals from friends and/or physicians. If someone you trust and admire is benefiting from therapy, ask who they are working with.

Many different professionals exist to treat different issues: psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, counselors, and marriage and family therapists. Do a search about each field and see which professional may be tailored best to suit your needs. Many of these fields require at least a Master's degree. Professionals with an MD or Ph.D have chosen to continue his or her education beyond the Master's degree and will have extensive and specialized training. However, having an MD or Ph.D does not guarantee being the most qualified professional to help you. Finding a licensed professional ensures that they have met certain requirements at a state or national level, such as completing a certain number of practicing hours and passing a national exam. In addition, they must adhere to certain ethical and legal regulations.

Once you have narrowed your search to a few names, give his or her office a call. Allow your intuition to give you feedback. If you are able to visit with the professional, the initial conversation should not turn into a therapy session. Rather, the visit should be brief, yet informative. You may consider briefly sharing your reason for seeking therapy to make sure the therapist is the appropriate professional for your concern. If you are not able to get in touch with the professional directly, the office manager or staff should be able to answer any basic questions you may have as well.

Doing your homework from the beginning can be a time consuming chore, but it may decrease any chances of experiencing frustration. The benefits from going into a therapeutic relationship informed can be empowering and can put you on a positive track for growth and change.