As research findings consistently demonstrate, the most significant factor in achieving successful therapeutic outcomes is the quality of the relationship between client and counsellor. This being the case, the importance of choosing the right therapist for you cannot be overstated. Getting it right could make a significant difference, saving you a lot of wasted time and money. It also increases your chances of successfully achieving your therapeutic goals.<\/p>\n
But how do I know who the right therapist is? Where to start? What exactly should I be looking for and what questions should I be asking?<\/p>\n
This helpful guide will give you a good place to start. Some of these pointers may be more relevant or meaningful to you than others. Pick and choose what feels appropriate for your particular circumstances. If you\u2019re looking to undertake counselling online, the amount of options available may be a little bewildering. I\u2019ve included some additional pointers relevant specifically to this area. That should help you narrow things down a bit.<\/p>\n
Presently in the UK, counselling and psychotherapy are not state-regulated professions, like they are in the US for example. This means that pretty much anyone can call themselves a counsellor or therapist. Even if they have no more training and experience than having looked at a couple of books and fancied that they might be a bit good at it. I\u2019ve heard of a few cases of people encountering these types, with devastating results. Sadly, in some cases it\u2019s put individuals off counselling for life.<\/p>\n
The good news is that it\u2019s easy to find fully trained, qualified and experienced practitioners through using online counselling directories. Inclusion of a therapist\u2019s profile on one of these lists means they have had their professional qualifications and training credentials checked. That they are verified members of an independent governing body, such as the BACP, CPCAB and NCS.\u00a0 In the UK, the main directories are the \u2018Counselling Directory<\/a>\u2019, the \u2018BACP\u2019 therapist directory<\/a>, and \u2018Psychology Today\u2019<\/a>. Though there are others.<\/p>\n These websites enable you to locate local practitioners by entering your postcode. A majority of practising therapists are likely to appear on at least one of them. Entering your specific issues, preferred type of therapy and other preferences will help you narrow down your search results further. Individual therapist profiles may contain a link to their own independent website. There you can find out more about them and their counselling practice.<\/p>\n Another way you might come across a therapist is through a referral from someone you know. Those having had successful therapeutic encounters may be eager to recommend their counsellor to others. A good word-of-mouth reputation may be a positive start. What works for one client may not necessarily work for another though. It’s important to do a little research and rumination on your own. Think about what\u2019s right for you before making any commitments. There may also be counselling agencies in your local area that you could contact, some catering to specific issues or client groups. Have a search through your browser and see what comes up.<\/p>\n At this stage, having established who your local professional practitioners are, you will want to know how to choose between them. The pointers below will help you do just that.<\/p>\n Before contacting a counsellor, you might want to consider more precisely what you\u2019re looking for. This will help you to communicate your needs and ask the right questions. When approaching potential practitioners, consider things like:<\/p>\n Some professional therapists specialize in specific areas, such as work with young people or couples. Or they may be primarily focused on a specific mental health condition. However, most counsellors will be experienced in working with a wide range of clients and presenting issues. After all, we are all unique individuals. No one has quite exactly the same problems as us, and the way in which we achieve our therapeutic goals will be equally unique. It is our own individual journey.<\/p>\n This is why some counsellors (particularly person-centred practitioners) will be more focused on you as a unique person, rather than fitting you into a ready-made treatment program.<\/p>\n The essential point is that you don\u2019t necessarily need to find a therapist offering expertise in exactly the type of issue you are experiencing. It is as, or maybe even more important, to find a counsellor with whom you feel safe and comfortable. Someone you feel you could really talk to. It\u2019s all about what feels right for you.<\/p>\n When seeking a therapist, you might be comfortable with the first one you meet and feel like you are ready to get started. Or you might want to shop around a bit and talk to a few therapists before choosing. Some therapists will offer a free (or discounted) preliminary session where you can meet them in person, or chat with you by phone. If not, they may be willing to share a few emails with you to answer some of your questions.<\/p>\n At this stage, having met with a potential counsellor, you may want to assess how you feel about the encounter in order to help you make a decision. The pointers below indicate some of the things you might consider:<\/p>\n Counselling online, via email, text chat, or video-call, is becoming increasingly popular. When undertaking therapy this way, over the Internet, we are not limited to selecting from counsellors in our local area. This\u00a0 significantly increases our options. The pointers below should help narrow things down a bit and help you to find qualified, experienced professionals offering their counselling services at-a-distance.<\/p>\n Online counselling has it\u2019s own set of skills, theory and practice. You will want your therapist to have received specific training and qualifications in this way of working. In the UK, there are several training providers, such as the Online Therapy Institute (OTI), Academy for Online Counselling and Psychotherapy, and Online Counselling Services & Training (OCST).<\/p>\n A good way to ensure you find online-qualified professionals is to visit the website for the Association for Counselling and Therapy Online (ACTO).<\/a> This is the UK\u2019s leading governing body for practitioners of online counselling and all their members have been fully verified. The ACTO website features a directory listing of professional members with individual biographical profiles, contact information, and links to the practitioner\u2019s independent websites (if they have one). It\u2019s a great place to start.<\/p>\n When you have established contact with an online therapist, you will want to know some more about their policies and procedures. These may be detailed on their website, or they may have an \u201cInformed Consent\u2019 or \u201cTerms of Service\u2019 document that they may ask you to read and sign before sessions commence. Look out for important information such as:<\/p>\n Having started therapy, it\u2019s important to recognise that it may take a couple of sessions or so to start getting into it. If you feel really uncomfortable, you may consider switching therapist. Or giving up altogether. It\u2019s worth a little self-examination before making the decision though. You may be experiencing some resistance due to unconscious defence mechanisms, or may not be quite ready and comfortable with your therapist enough yet to say what you are really thinking and feeling. That\u2019s fine. The feeling of trust and safety in your relationship with your therapist builds over time. Resistances can be worked on and overcome. It may well be worth hanging in there until you feel ready to go deeper into what it is you want to work on.<\/p>\n Another common aspect of counselling is that, at first, things may seem to get worse before they get better. As we begin to open up and discuss aspects of our lives that we find hurtful and distressing, we can begin to encounter strong negative emotions and upset. This can be an essential part of the counselling process. It will often pass, or at least recede, as a series of therapeutic sessions continues.<\/p>\n It\u2019s important to recognise that the road may be hard at times. Keep your therapeutic goals in mind and continue working towards them. Using their skills, empathy, and knowledge, your counsellor will support and guide you along the way. The potential transformative gains of undertaking therapy are worth the journey.<\/p>\n Note: many of the organisations and agencies mentioned in this article can be accessed through the links<\/a> page on my website.<\/p>\nWord of mouth referrals<\/h3>\n
Preparing for contact<\/h2>\n
Budget<\/h4>\n
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Type of Therapy<\/h4>\n
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Time scales<\/h4>\n
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Presenting Issues<\/h4>\n
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Do I need a specialist?<\/h4>\n
Meeting the therapist<\/h2>\n
Did they:<\/h4>\n
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Counselling Online<\/h2>\n
ACTO<\/h4>\n
Policies and Procedures<\/h4>\n
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In Therapy<\/h2>\n
Counselling may be a hard road, but it’s worth the journey<\/h4>\n