How to Choose the Right Therapist for You

Sometimes finding the right therapist can be as daunting as therapy itself. In my previous work, my job was to connect clients to appropriate therapists. I found a lot of clients didn't know where to start or what to ask. That's why I have written this guide on "How to choose the right therapist". How to start the process of looking for a therapist?

-Here are some helpful tips on how to get the ball rolling when searching for a therapist.

Consider the following:

- Would you prefer online appointments, or are you the type of person who would benefit from sessions in person? Having a sense of this will allow you to filter those who only do one or the other.

- Where would be a convenient location for you to go see a therapist? Consider someone who is close to work or home. Travel time adds up, attending therapy shouldn't add stress to your day.

- How urgently do you require therapy? There's nothing worse then deciding to see a therapist only to find they are booked out for the next 6 months. Have a rough plan of when you want to start therapy, and make sure you find a therapist that can accommodate this.

- How severe is your current situation? If you have a history of hospitalisations and complex mental disorders, you may require more support than a therapist in private practice can accommodate. In this case, public health services should be considered.

What does it mean to find the "right fit" therapist for you? Essentially you want a therapist who:

- Is trained or specialises in the the area or mental health issue you are experiencing. If you are looking for help with PTSD, you wouldn't benefit from a therapist who only treats autism for example.

- Is the most appropriate professional for what your wanting out of therapy. For example, if you are wanting to start taking medication, you would see a Psychiatrist. Where as if you are wanting to process your childhood trauma, you would most likely see a Psychotherapist.

- Is the gender you would feel more comfortable talking to. For example, some sexual trauma survivors feel more comfortable with female therapists rather than male therapists and therefore this is something that should be considered when looking for a therapist.

- Is in an age range that you feel okay with. Some people don't mind how old the therapist is. In other situations, the life experience of a therapist might be relevant. For example, if you are going through menopause you may prefer an older therapist who can relate.

- Is not discriminatory around age, race and gender. For example, if you are a part of the LGBTQI community you may look for a therapist who specifically states on their website that they work with this population.

- Feels right in your gut. Our body can be a great resource when choosing a therapist. What does your body feel in response to this person? Trust your intuition.

Other important points:

- It's okay to choose a therapist and later to realise they aren't the right fit for you. Trying out different therapists until you find the right one is an investment in your healing as 40% of change in therapy is a result of the relationship between the client and therapist, not the techniques or models used.

- Be honest with the therapist about what you expect from them. Yes, they are trained in providing professional support but they can't read your mind.

- Talk to your therapist about your beliefs around how therapy works. Therapy can be depicted in many different ways based on what you watch on TV, your past therapeutic experiences and what your family and friends think about therapy. These all impact the ways you view therapy and sometimes can cause more harm than good.

- There's no right or wrong way to do therapy as the client. Sometimes client's can get caught up focusing on "doing" therapy the "right" way rather than being themselves. This can be very useful to address with your therapist if you notice yourself feeling this way.

Meet Daniela, a compassionate Psychotherapist and Holistic Counsellor based in Melbourne. Whether you're looking for support from the comfort of your own space with online appointments, no matter where you are, or prefer in-person sessions in Murrumbeena, Melbourne, Daniela is here to guide you. Daniela brings a unique and comprehensive approach to her practice, utilising an integrated model that encompasses trauma-informed care, attachment theory, internal family systems, mentalisation, somatic techniques, and mindfulness practices. This thoughtful blend of therapeutic modalities allows Daniela to tailor her approach to meet the diverse needs of her clients. New clients are welcome.