Finding Your Therapeutic Fit: How To Choose The Right Therapist

Jeremy Magin • Nov 15, 2023

Finding Your Therapeutic Fit: How To Choose The Right Therapist

Therapy can be a life-changing experience, whether you’re living with a mental illness or not. It can give you the confidence, motivation, and/or encouragement you need to get yourself back on your feet, back on track, and back to living a happy, healthy, and rewarding life. With therapy, you can feel like you again.

The problem is most people either aren’t seeking the help of a therapist or don’t fully understand how a therapist can help them. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), of the nearly 60 million people living with a mental illness, only 47% of them receive mental health treatment every year.

Even those who seek the help of a mental health professional often struggle to find a therapist they feel comfortable around – which can get in the way of treatment and make matters worse. If this sounds like you, don’t worry – we’re going to break down everything you need to know to help you find a therapist you can thrive with.

Qualities to Look for In a Therapist

With dozens of therapists in the Denver area – and thousands more available online – finding the right therapist often takes time. All patients have unique goals and expectations, and all therapists have their own unique style and specialty, but the right match is out there – so long as you’re willing to search for it.

To help you in your search for a therapist, here are some of the most prominent qualities to look for:

A general passion for helping others through life’s problems
A great listener and observer – someone who will take the time to understand YOU
Easy to talk to, very relatable, and authentic
Reliable, consistent, and always there when you need a helping hand
Promotes a safe space that’s free of judgment and/or ridicule
Specailizes in the type of therapy you’re interested in (CBT, ACT, DBT, psychotherapy, talk therapy, etc.)
Has worked with patients that have similar symptoms or conditions as you
Sensitive to the emotions you’re experiencing, but helping you face your fears

Understanding what you’re looking for out of a good therapist can help you narrow down your options – instead of looking at dozens or even hundreds of therapists, your list will be down to a select few. From there, you can schedule an appointment with your top choice to see if they’re a good fit – if not, try someone else!

Questions to Ask Your Therapist

Your first therapy session is one of the most important. It’s your therapist’s first real opportunity to get to know you, so expect them to ask a lot of questions about how you’re feeling, what’s troubling you, what brought you to therapy, and what you expect to get out of therapy. This helps them form a treatment plan.

With that said, the first session is also your first real opportunity to get to know your potential therapist – so don’t be afraid to ask questions yourself! Here are some good examples of questions to ask during a first session:

How long are the sessions and what can I expect out of them?
What is your general philosophy or approach to therapy?
How much does a session cost, and how frequently will you want to see me?
Will I be given any homework or assignments to do at home?
What licenses and certifications do you have?
Have you helped anyone with similar mental health issues as me?
How does your cancellation or rescheduling process work?
How will I know these mental health services are working?
Do you support telehealth services or online therapy?

The first therapy session helps set the precedent for future sessions – it gives your therapist a clear idea of how they can help you overcome life’s greatest mental health challenges. The more you open up in therapy, the more your therapist can help you change your way of thinking, acting, and/or behaving – all for a happier you!

How to Find Therapists In Your Area

You know what qualities to look for and you know what questions to ask your therapist during your first session, but none of that is useful unless you know where to look and how to find therapists in your area. The good news is there is an endless supply of resources available to help narrow down your options.

Here are some of the best ways to find licensed therapists in your area:

Check to see if your insurance company has a directory for mental health professionals in your area that are part of your network
Ask your primary care doctor or mental health professional for a recommendation
Ask your friends and family if they have any recommendations for therapists they’ve used in the past
Use a searchable database offered by a reputable mental health organization, such as the American Psychological Association or the Association for Behavior and Cognitive Therapies
Search for ‘therapist near me’ on Google and see what therapists are closest to your home or work
Contact us at One Life Counseling to set up a free 30-minute consultation with a proven and experienced Denver therapist

Just because you schedule an initial appointment with a therapist doesn’t mean you have to continue seeing that specific therapist – especially if they’re not what you were looking for. It might take a few tries before finding the right one, but don’t let that discourage you – a better life is right around the corner!

Contact One Life Counseling Today!

Do you feel like a shell of your former self? Have you lost that sense of purpose and meaning in your life? Are you finding it harder and harder to wake up with motivation and an uplifting attitude? Did you recently suffer a traumatic life experience? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of those questions, contact us right away.

At One Life Counseling, we provide a safe space for anyone dealing with ADHD, stress, anxiety, anger, depression, relationship problems, grief, infidelity, trauma, PTSD, and any other mental health issue you’re worried about. Don’t hesitate to request your free 30-minute consultation with Jeremy Magin today!

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