How to pick a therapist?
Written by a licensed therapist in Long Beach
In my first blog of 2022, I wrote about how to prioritize your mental health in 2022. In my second blog of 2022, I would like to give ideas on how to find a therapist who is right for you.
I started the Long Beach Therapy website because I realized that when people are picking out therapists, they don’t really have anything to go by. They just pick someone who has a nice sounding name or doesn’t look too weird, and then they just hope for the best.
I wanted Long Beach Therapy to be different. I wanted for people to go on the website and learn something about the therapy process as well as about me. I wanted them to have an idea of who I am before having to tell their life story to me. I hope I was successful. Please, look around the website, look at my biography, my credentials, my areas of expertise, and then decide if we might be a match. I hope that the Long Beach Therapy website did its job.
You can also check out the “meet your therapist” page on our website to check out all of the therapists we have at Long Beach Therapy. You can call 562-310-9741 to get help picking a therapist based on your specific goals and needs.
Regardless of who you choose, your therapist should be someone who meets the following criteria:
- You believe that they understand your issues and your point of view.
- You don’t feel judged.
- You feel like you can open up with them. If this is not the case, try out a few different therapists and go with the therapist who you feel that you can most open up to and be your true self with.
- You believe that they are providing you insight or interventions that make sense to you. If this isn’t the case, it is important for you to talk to them about what you are needing and what you believe you want.
- They offer therapy options that you feel comfortable with. There are pros and cons to in-person therapy and virtual therapy. Regardless of what you choose, YOU should feel comfortable with the mode you are participating in.
- They have a therapy style that you feel comfortable with. Whether that is EMDR, CBT, or another type of therapy; if you have a therapy style in mind or a therapy style that has worked for you in the past, don’t hesitate to ask your therapist if they are trained in that type of therapy or if they can refer you to someone who is trained in that type of therapy.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Sometimes when people call for the first time and I ask them “do you have any questions”, they respond with “what are the usual questions people ask”? Even though they don’t know what to ask, they are starting the process of getting to know the therapist so that they can ultimately make a decision whether to try the therapist out.
Good luck on your journey towards personal growth!
If you live in California and are looking for a therapist, please give us a call at Long Beach Therapy: 562-310-9741.