Written by Beverly Liang, LMSW
CoreStory Clinician
[Click here to read more about her]
The process of finding a therapist can be bewildering and frustrating, especially if it's a new process for you. When am I going to hear back? Psychopharmacology? Psychoeducation? Psycho-what? What are all these specializations - is that something that applies to me? Here are some things to consider in your search.
1. Motivation: Why are you seeking help now?
Everyone has a different answer to this question, and the answer might also impact who you decide to work with. Crises notwithstanding, oftentimes the issues that bring someone to therapy have been happening for a while already. So what made you decide to look for help now (and not another time)? And although there might be more than one issue that is affecting you now, usually there is one specific issue that has some urgency to it.
2. Compatibility: How do we work together?
Finding a therapist can be a bit analogous to dating: maybe there is an ideal therapist soulmate for you out there, but in reality there are probably a range of therapists that you can build a strong (working) relationship with. It can take some time to figure out how you feel your work is going, and it’s totally normal and important to talk about things you don’t like. In the first couple sessions it’s important that you feel listened to, that they understand what brought you in, alongside learning more about your life history.
3. Background: Are there identity or cultural factors that are important to me?
When looking for a therapist, are there certain experiences or aspects of your identity or life history you would like your therapist to to share in common or have experience with? These can include gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, language, and immigration status, among other identifiers. In relation to life history, are you looking for someone who has experience in working with people who might have similar issues to you? If this is important to you, it is worthwhile to ask what kind of experience they have in working with that particular issue.
4. Approach and theoretical orientation: How does change happen?
Therapist profiles often talk about training and theoretical approach. It can be helpful to ask a potential therapist about how they approach working with patients, as well as any overarching beliefs they have about why this approach is effective. This may also give you some clues about whether or not they might be the right fit for the kinds of topics and issues you want to work on in therapy. However, if you find yourself not agreeing, not being interested, or not understanding their explanation, it might be a sign that it’s not the best fit for you.
As my profile discusses, I believe that therapy allows for a rare space where together we come to listen and to be listened to, and to understand and evolve our stories and language, which are key to how we understand ourselves and the world. You can learn more about my background here— and please reach out if you're interested in working with me!