So, you are thinking about seeing a therapist? Great! Now, do you know what you want in a therapist?
You may be needing help navigating the stress of the parenting, political climate, or other day-to-day stressors. Perhaps you have had trauma in your life and you are ready to start taking control of your life and need help developing healthy coping strategies to do so. Or, perhaps you need help getting out of old patterns in your relationships.
No matter the reason, finding the right therapist to help you navigate through is important.
Did you know that the client-therapist relationship is a strong predictor of the client’s success? When client’s feel as though they have a genuine, supportive and compassionate rapport with their therapist they feel safer in sharing, and motivation to change and follow through with therapy increases. So how do you find YOUR therapist? I would consider the following:
Points To Ponder
- Do you desire or need a therapist with a particular background/certification/ specialty?
- Do you need a therapist who will be more directive in their approach or do you prefer a therapist who will be less directive?
- What modes of therapy are provided (individual, group, family, couples, teletherapy, etc.)?
- What is the goal of therapy? What do you need from your therapy? This can guide your decision.
- What are you not looking for? When you know what you don’t want this can also point you in the right direction.
What about the Money/Insurance Factor?
Money/cost can be a barrier for a lot of people, and I totally understand this. I like to consider myself frugal. However, I have also learned (and frankly, I am still learning) how to invest in myself. We all need to invest in ourselves because the long-term pay off is worth every penny. Think of what your mental health is worth?
There are several therapists in Vancouver who are on various insurance panels, and then many who are not. I do not find this to be an indicator either way of how skilled or unskilled a therapist is.
However, there are a few limitations for clinicians and clients when insurance is involved:
- Some will only cover a certain number of sessions;
- They will often ask your therapist to justify the services which they are providing, which will mean there is a limit to how confidential your information is;
- They require a diagnosis for billing purposes–diagnosis have the ability to follow people throughout their lives.
Regardless of what you choose to do in the end, the point is to invest in your self and your wellbeing. We all deserve to live life at its full potential, but that requires us to move beyond our fears and self-imposed limitations.
If you are considering Mindful Wellness Counseling please call or fill out the contact page to set up a free 15-minute consultation. I look forward to assisting you in finding your best self and best life.
