Choosing A Suitable Therapist For You

 

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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An Overview Of Online Therapy

 

Source: nytimes.com

 Online therapy, often referred also as e-counseling, cyber-counseling, or teletherapy, entails offering support and mental health services through the Internet. These services can be provided through text messaging, online chat, Internet phone, email, or video conferencing. Online therapy or online counseling happens in real-time, like in text messaging or phone conversations, or it can be somewhat delayed, such as using email messaging. Online therapy has its boundaries, but it is increasingly becoming a vital resource for a mounting number of individuals.

Methods

Fundamental instruments for effective online therapy are telephone, email, instant messages, chats, and video conferencing. Although mobile applications have also gained popularity, these methods can be accessed through a laptop or desktop computer.

Online Therapists

Counselors and therapists who do their jobs face-to-face have various licenses and credentials, which goes the same way for online therapists, whose training and credentials also differ. Some web pages guarantee a convenient and fast way to getting an online therapy license, but becoming one takes equal training and education as becoming a licensed face-to-face therapist.

Conversely, the actual online therapy practice is very challenging to manage since therapists can do it from anywhere across the globe, making it hard to implement state guidelines that regulate training, the scope of practice, and education.

Ethics And Guidelines Of Online Therapy

The APA or American Psychological Association provides a suitable ethical structure for utilizing technology in the field of mental health. These guidelines include the minimum practices and criteria needed for ethical online therapy.

  • Operate within the extent of your practice. Therapists must only provide skills and services that they are qualified to offer. If you divulge a matter to your therapist that he is not trained to manage, he must endorse you to another therapist or mental health professional rather than trying to address it himself.
  • Have adequate knowledge of technology. This would involve using tools needed to provide therapy, such as psychotherapy online, and methods to guarantee that patient information remains safe and confidential.
  • Follow pertinent guidelines and regulations. Various states have various regulations and policies that oversee virtual medical services. It will depend on your therapist to follow and be aware of the laws for their corresponding state and location. For instance, in the United States, online people who have gotten specific training and have completed the necessary licensing course are legitimately permitted to call them ‘psychologists.’
  • Pursue knowledge, training, and management. To offer the most suitable care possible, numerous states in America require therapists to be updated with the newest practices and studies. This can entail joining informal and formal workshops and training and pursue online or in-person clinical management when necessary.

Effectiveness

Source: viewpointdualrecovery.com

Studies suggest that doing therapy online is equally effective as conventional in-person therapy. In one particular study, experts revealed that online CBT or cognitive behavioral therapy could successfully treat anxiety, emotional distress, and depression when integrated with clinical care.

Pieces of evidence even showed that online therapy might be more potent than face-to-face therapy. An analysis of 20 studies revealed that CBT done online was more successful than face-to-face CBT at decreasing the level intensity of depression.

Online therapy does present some difficulties, but it has gotten support from many patients who have used online mental health management. In an analysis of studies publicized in the World Journal Of Psychiatry, clients getting mental health treatment using video conferencing claimed high satisfaction levels.

Online Therapy Benefits

Here are among the most common reasons why online therapy has become a popular choice for many individuals who seek mental health help.

  • With online therapy, you will have no worries about your colleagues from work or community knowing about your mental health concerns. Confidentiality is one of the biggest pros of online therapy, and you can schedule an appointment at the comfort of your own home.
  • Cost-Effectiveness. Online therapy gets rid of most of the overhead costs related to location, permitting therapists to provide more cost-effective treatment choices. And remember that there is no charge associated with ‘travel’ or ‘commute’ to your therapy appointments.
  • Ease And Comfort. Online therapy makes it easier for you to choose sessions that match your lifestyle. You can schedule appointments around your family and work responsibilities.
  • There are numerous tangible limitations to receiving therapy. For instance, maybe you are residing in a remote location. Or you cannot access proper transportation, which means that you might need to depend on other family members or friends to get around. But with access to technology, anyone who has an Internet connection can take advantage of therapy without transportation problems.

Source: healthcarefinancenews.com

Considerations

Studies increasingly indicate that online therapy is a very effective choice, although it does not mean that it is perfect for everyone. More major mental conditions, such as schizophrenia, depression, and substance abuse, require more serious treatment regimens.

Talk to your primary physician about online therapy – if it works for your unique situation or if you must only turn to it as a complement to more conventional management options. If you believe that online therapy could work for you, study some web pages and applications that are accessible to identify which option is perfect for your budget and your needs.

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