Should I try Counseling?

Maybe you are asking yourself this question and you are not sure where to start. It can be a scary experience to try counseling for the first time. Maybe you have been feeling down, stuck, misunderstood, or you would just like to move forward with life goals. People come to counseling for a wide variety of reasons that range from relationship concerns to self-exploration. A counselor is someone you can turn to in times of need to help you sort through feelings. Counselors are trained to help with human emotions. My counseling education has included 8 years of formal study about families, individuals, the brain, and the human condition. That being said, the most important characteristic your counselor should have is their ability to listen to you, and make you feel heard and validated in a non-judgmental environment. A counselor should get to know you and your life concerns well, so that they can collaborate with you on how to best reach your goals. 

Is This Counselor Right For Me?

Questions You should Ask Yourself Include:

1. Does this therapist want to get to know me?
     A counselor should make the session about you. It may be a red flag if the therapist spends a large portion of the session talking about him or herself or if you feel like they are trying to "sell" you on the service. A highly trained therapist has no need to provide a service with an individual that isn't ready for therapy, or if the relationship isn't a good fit for the client. 

2. Even if I'm nervous, do I feel safe?
      It can be extremely difficult to open up to a stranger about intimate life concerns. In fact it's very normal for it to feel strange at first. However, the important thing is for the therapist to actively listen in a non-judgmental environment. You should feel like the therapist is actively engaged and caring, even if it feels a bit awkward at first.

3. Does this person have appropriate credentials?
     It can be confusing picking the right therapist. Anyone can call themselves a psychotherapist, but unlicensed individuals are breaking the law if they claim they are licensed when they are not. Make sure the person you are seeing has legitimate credentials and a license. Licensed professionals are required to obtain a master's degree and  supervision from an experienced clinician for approximately 2-3 years before being able to work independently. 

4. Does this person seem to have an appropriate first visit experience?
     There is a period of assessment that requires collecting a lot of information.  You will likely fill out paperwork that asks a lot of questions about your mental health. You will also go over your rights and responsibilities as well as an informed consent. If your counselor doesn't do this, he or she is not adhering to ethical best practices. Stay away from therapists that skip this crucial part of the counseling process, because a thorough assessment is the basis for creating effective treatment plans that help you reach your goals. 

Follow Your Instincts

You will know if the counseling relationship feels right, even if it is a bit scary to try counseling for the first time. It is normal to feel a bit overwhelmed when first starting for a number of reasons, but if something feels "off" or alarm bells are going off, then trust your instincts and try another therapist. 

Articles to Help You Choose the Right Therapist:

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http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2013/07/08/5-tips-for-finding-the-right-therapist/

http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2010/01/26/10-ways-to-find-a-good-therapist/

http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2012/08/14/key-questions-to-ask-when-choosing-a-therapist/