Finding a therapist who is the right fit can take time.  It can be a bit like finding the right car.  Sometimes we get right in, and things just feel right.  Most of the time though, we do a lot of research to see what we need.  So, how can you choose the right therapist?

What type of therapist do you need?

 The mental health field has many specialties.  There are therapists that specialize in couples, marriage, family, grief, trauma, LBGTQ and more.  For instance, at Dawn we specialize in the prevention and treatment of trauma. To find the right therapist for you, you will first want to determine what type of therapist you need and will be most comfortable with. Other things you want to consider is gender of the counselor, religion, race, culture, and language.

What type of therapy do you need?

Therapy is not a one-size-fits-all model. Identify your primary need for therapy (examples depression, anxiety, troubled relationships).

Some questions to ask yourself are:

• What difficulties are you experiencing in your life?
• How are they effecting you? How are they effecting your emotions? Thoughts?
• What do you hope to gain or change through therapy? What do you want to make better?

Then educate yourself on the types of therapy and what they treat. A simple google search on types of therapy can do the trick.  For instance, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is great for couples.  Somatic (just a fancy way of saying body) therapy and EMDR are often used to treat trauma.

How do you find the right therapist for you?

This can take a little more time but there are great tools to help in your search. The website PsychologyToday.com can help you find a therapist who can support you and will give you an idea of what types of therapy they provide. Read their bios. Call them and ask questions. Make sure that whoever you choose, you feel comfortable with them and their approach. Most therapists offer a free consultation to get to know you and you them. The American Psychological Association (APA) emphasizes that it’s important to choose a therapist that possesses strong credentials and effective interpersonal skills that contribute to a feeling of trust and a sense of forward progress.

The decision to seek therapy is a courageous one! We applaud and support your decision to seek healing and restoration. Contact us with any other questions you have or for more information on the services Dawn has to offer.

Baby steps are still steps. You got this.