Choosing a Therapist

People frequently discuss how to intelligently choose “best buy” products, such as computers, cameras or IPODS in order to make a wise investment. Guidelines also exist for choosing a therapist. Many of these same principles would also apply to physicians or other health service providers.

Firstly, it amazes me how intelligent individuals who shop for quality material products at a good price will resort blindly to the Yellow Pages and an “eeny, meeny, miney, mo” approach to choose their health service providers. Certainly entrusting the mental or physical health of oneself or one’s family to a service provider should be considered as important an investment, requiring as much research as buying a television set or an IPOD!

Thus, in choosing a health service provider, try to get a recommendation from someone who has sampled his or her “wares”. In selecting a therapist, this may not be possible, as a potential consumer may not know anyone who has seen a therapist, or feels uncomfortable in asking anyone for such a recommendation. Unfortunately, seeking the services of a therapist still often carries a certain negative stigma in many areas. I understand that in some cosmopolitan areas, such as New York City, names of good therapists are quite often exchanged at elegant cocktail parties. However, the Golden Triangle area is not New York City, for which, overall, I am very grateful.

Assuming one has found a potential therapist, such logistical items as location, fees, time of appointment, and possibly a brief description of the nature of the problem should be discussed with the potential therapist. Many major health insurance companies may pay up to 80% of the fee, after the deductible is reached, and therapists will be glad to aid their clients in taking advantage of this benefit. For myself, managed care is a stressor that I am not willing to endure. However, BPS does file on insurance for our patients.

Check out fees, perhaps calling several different counselors. Remember that high fees and an impressive office are not necessarily indicators of a good therapist. They are indicators of a good business person, but the characteristics of a good business person and a good therapist are not synonymous.

Do not be surprised if there is a lag time between the time you call and when you are able to be seen, since each client is seen for about an hour, and hardly anyone can see clients every hour all day. Thus, a built-in limitation exists in how many people a therapist can work with in a day or a week. This is different from other physicians, even psychiatrists, who can have many more clients, because they do not spend as much time with each individual.

Finally, remember that as a client you will be developing a very intimate relationship with your therapist, by the very nature of the business. Thus, it is very important that you feel comfortable with your therapist. He or she should be someone that you find easy to talk to, a person you feel you can trust and relate to and yet one who will not be merely supportive. You do not need a sycophant for a therapist. If change is to occur, you need new ideas, not just someone who will agree with you all the time. It is important, however, to have a therapist who seems to have the same basic values and beliefs that you do.

Remember that you are a consumer, meaning that you deserve to receive a quality product for your money. Although university degrees and accreditation from state and federal associations indicate some minimal competency, the proof is in the product. If you as a client are not satisfied with the result, why continue to waste your time and money? Remember, however, that true change does not occur quickly. Altering a deep-seated depression, or changing the pathological ways a couple relates, after 20 years of “practice” in hurting each other and building up resentments, takes time. If a person was gravely physically ill and then began to recover, the progress could be measured in infinitesimally small increments. The same applies to mental health problems. In general, the more chronic the problem, the longer the recovery rate.