So you've decided it's time to see a therapist or counsellor. How do you know who to choose? Personal recommendations are massively helpful, but you may not want to tell everyone that you're considering counselling. Even if you're happy to discuss it, your friends or colleagues who have had counselling might not want to tell you about it, or they might be uncomfortable with the idea of you seeing 'their' counsellor.
You can have a look on the internet, and you'll find plenty of listings, but how do you know who to choose?
It can be helpful to start by thinking about your own criteria. Are there practical considerations? For example, is there a particular day when you need to be seen, or do you need an appointment at a particular time such as after work or whilst your children are at school? How much can you afford to pay? Do you need a regular appointment time, or someone who can be flexible around your schedule? Do you need to know about different types of therapy in order to know what is right for you? Where do you need your therapist to be - in the centre of Kingsbridge, or can you drive further around the South Hams?
The single most important thing about therapy is that you find the right counsellor for you. No matter how highly-qualified or experienced a therapist is, regardless of whether they are the cheapest or most expensive, if you don't feel comfortable with them it will be much harder to make progress. Research has shown that the relationship between the counsellor and the client is more important than what sort of therapy they use.
So the good news is that you don't need to become an expert on all the types of therapy. You need to find the person who you feel you can talk to. It's fine to ask questions about how a counsellor works, or about their training. We welcome questions, and there is often information on our individual websites about what we do
Look at photos and read what we say on our websites or in our blogs. Does this therapist feel like someone you could talk to? You may be offered a no-obligation initial chat and this can be a helpful way for you to see if you feel comfortable.
You are in control here. Think about what is right for you. Take time if you need to, this is your decision. Good luck!
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