Source: talkspace.com
It is vital to find a competent therapist that you feel relaxed and comfortable with. Besides, you might have conversations involving awkward topics or perhaps even open up about things you have never disclosed to anybody before.
You would like to work with a professional whom you will express yourself as well as listen to. However, some numerous choices and options selecting a suitable therapist can be confusing.
Scanning through the pages of a directory online may produce thousands of results. How can you choose somebody to work with based on just a photo and a brief bio? Plus, if you were looking for help via therapy online, how would you find a good match when you might be talking to a therapist basically through video chat or text-based chat?
How Crucial Is Finding A Suitable Match?
Someone might have suggested that you work with a certain therapist. Perhaps a friend has told you that this certain therapist helped her so much and that you should call her to schedule an appointment yourself. But do you think this therapist would be capable of helping you too?
It actually depends. The therapist could be competent and skilled, but it would only be as successful if you feel connected to her if you work with her. Hence, the same proficient therapist that positively affected your friend might not work efficiently for you if you do not feel personally connected.
Why? If you are not comfortable with your therapist, or you are worried that she might criticize you, you will most likely not divulge your deepest emotions and thoughts or recognize unbecoming behaviors. If you do not open up about these concerns, you may not get to the core of these concerns and may not get the information you require to make the necessary transformations for your life. In fact, your connection with your therapist, often known as the therapeutic alliance, may be the biggest determining element in how therapy is helpful for you.
Source: pathwaysofpa.com
Therapeutic Alliance
A well-known researcher named Edward Bordin was one of the first to study the impact of a therapeutic alliance. He later discovered that this alliance is not just about the connection between the patient and therapist. This also concerns the agreement on the objectives of therapy and the techniques utilized to attain these objectives.
The patient and the therapist must have a mutual likeness for each other. They must also feel that the communication is good and open, and both should be willing to work with one another.
The concept that the connection between the patient and therapist is vital to efficient treatment has been strengthened by several research studies through the years.
Considerations On Who You Want To Work With
Consequently, it is crucial to find a therapist that you believe you can work well with. Other factors you want to consider include:
Age. Do you wish to work with a therapist who is younger, just around your age, or older?
Gender. Do you feel more relaxed with a woman or a man?
Religion. Would it matter if your therapist were Catholic, Christian, or Muslim?
You may feel that you want to connect better with a much younger therapist. Or perhaps you believe that you would be more relaxed if you communicate with someone your age. It depends upon your preference as to the kind of person you envision expressing yourself too.
Indeed, you might not know whom you want to talk and interact with. That is fine as well. You can typically decide to have no preference at all.
You might be capable of learning a little more regarding the therapists that you have to select from. Remember that many therapists do not want their personal lives to be made public. However, they will frequently share some basic background in their biographies, which can help you try and find a competent person you can associate with before making your first appointment.
Source: onlinepsychologydegree.info
What If Your Therapist Is Not The Right One?
If you eventually realize that your therapist is not the right one for you during your second or third session, or you start to feel like you are not well supported or guided in the therapy process, keep in mind that you always have the right to change therapists.
On the other hand, if you have been through several sessions with your therapist, you might want to honestly open up to her that you don’t feel a connection. It may seem uncomfortable at first, but therapists have these talks frequently. If there is a matter that needs to be tackled, they definitely wish to tackle it with you.
Therapists might also assist you in finding a fellow therapist who is a better match, someone who can more efficiently meet your needs and wants. The kind of approaches therapists provide can vary — some might be able to provide meditations for weight loss or other holistic therapies, for example.
If you feel awkward about having a conversation with your therapist directly regarding finding another therapist, you can still do this by visiting someone at a specific agency. Ask the receptionist in the office to kindly find a new therapist for you.
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