Finding A Therapist - Great Info!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-22-2006
Finding A Therapist - Great Info!!
1
Wed, 07-19-2006 - 3:42pm

Great tdoc info from another board:

THE FOUR MOST IMPORTANT THINGS A THERAPIST HAS TO OFFER ARE THE FOLLOWING:

RESPECT
INFORMATION
CONNECTION
HOPE
.
WITH THESE FOUR COMPONENTS, MOST ANY RELATIONSHIP CAN PROMOTE HEALING.
IN GENERAL MOST HELPFUL THERAPISTS ARE:
GENUINE
WILLING TO SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT THEMSELVES
HAVE RESPECT AND A HIGH POSITIVE REGARD FOR THEIR CLIENTS
ARE WARM AND EMPATHIC
RESPONSIVE AND HOPEFUL
HAVE FIRM BOUNDARIES BUT ARE NOT DOMINEERING

HELPFUL THERAPIST ALSO HAVE:
A VARIETY OF CLINICAL SKILLS TO ADDRESS THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF THE CLIENT
.
AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE POWER IMBALANCE THAT EXISTS IN THERAPY AND A WILLINGNESS TO WORK TOWARDS EMPOWERMENT OF THE CLIENT
.
A VIEW OF THE CLIENT AS THE EXPERT ON HIS OR HER OWN LIFE AND AS AN ACTIVE PARTNER IN THERAPY
.
AWARENESS OF THEIR OWN BIASES AND THE LIMITS OF THEIR SKILL, AND WILLINGNESS TO REFER YOU TO OTHER PROFESSIONALS IF NECESSARY.

LIST OF THINGS TO LOOK FOR

FOLLOWING ARE SOME THINGS YOU MAY FIND HELPFUL TO LOOK FOR IN A THERAPIST:
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FIND A THERAPIST YOU FELL COMFORTABLE WITH. THERAPY IS NOT AN EASY PROCESS AND YOUR THERAPIST IS NOT THERE TO BE YOUR FRIEND.
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FIND A THERAPIST WHO RESPECTS YOUR INDIVIDUALITY, OPINIONS, AND SELF.
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FIND A THERAPIST WHO WILL NOT GET UPSET IF YOU DISAGREE WITH WHAT THEY HAVE SAID, BUT ENCOURAGES YOU TO EXPRESS YOURSELF WHEN YOU DO NOT AGREE.
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FIND A THERAPIST WHO NEVER MINIMIZES YOUR EXPERIENCES AND ALWAYS RESPECTS YOUR FEELINGS.
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FIND A THERAPIST WHO WILL NOT TRY TO FORCE YOU TO TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT YOU MIGHT NOT BE READY FOR.
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FIND A THERAPIST THAT DOES NOT SPEND TIME TALKING ABOUT THEIR OWN PROBLEMS. YOUR SESSIONS ARE FOR YOU NOT YOUR THERAPIST.
.
FIND A THERAPIST WHO WANTS NEITHER A FRIENDSHIP NOR A SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU OUTSIDE OF YOUR COUNSELING SESSIONS.

FIND A THERAPIST WHO IS MORE THAN WILLING TO DISCUSS PROBLEMS THAT MIGHT ARISE BETWEEN THE TWO OF YOU WITHIN THE THERAPIST/CLIENT RELATIONSHIP.
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FIND A THERAPIST WHO WILL HELP TEACH YOU NEW AND HEALTHIER WAYS TO COPE.
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FIND A THERAPIST WHO WILL NEVER MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE A FAILURE OR CAUSE YOU TO BELIEVE THEY ARE DISAPPOINTED IN YOU IF YOU HAVE A SLIP OR A RELAPSE.

THE INTERVIEW

WHEN INTERVIEWING A POTENTIAL THERAPIST, KEEP IN MIND YOUR NEEDS AND GOALS FOR THERAPY, ALSO, QUALITIES YOU FEEL ARE IMPORTANT IN A THERAPIST.
.
DON'T FORGET (OR AVOID) TALKING ABOUT MONEY. THEY MAY TAKE VARIOUS INSURANCE PAYMENTS: PRIVATE, MEDICARE, OR STATE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE.
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OTHERS MAY OFFER A PAYMENT PLAN OR WORK ON A SLIDING SCALE, BASED ON WHAT A CLIENT CAN AFFORD.

AFTER MEETING WITH THE POTENTIAL THERAPIST, ASK YOURSELF SOME QUESTIONS:
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DID YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE AND ABLE TO BEGIN DISCUSSING YOUR PROBLEMS?
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DID THE THERAPIST SEEM TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT?
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DID YOU FEEL YOUR CONCERNS WERE TAKEN SERIOUSLY AND THAT YOU WERE TREATED WITH RESPECT?
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WERE THE TWO OF YOU IN GENERAL AGREEMENT ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND YOUR EXPECTATIONS FOR THERAPY?
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WERE YOU SATISFIED WITH THE THERAPIST'S ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS?
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DID YOU FEEL THAT YOU COULD GROW TO TRUST AND WORK WITH THIS PERSON?
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PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR INTUITION; CHOOSING A HELPFUL THERAPIST WILL REQUIRE TRUSTING YOUR OWN THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS.
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REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE A CONSUMER OF A SERVICE AND THAT IT IS YOUR RIGHT TO CHOOSE A THERAPIST WHO BEST MEETS YOUR NEEDS.

LIST OF QUESTIONS TO ASK

OK NOW WE WILL COVER SOME POTENTIAL QUESTIONS FOR INTERVIEWING A POTENTIAL THERAPIST....
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I WILL MAIL THIS OUT TO ANYONE WHO WANTS IT AFTER CHAT. I WAS LOOKING AHEAD AND EMAIL IS ALREADY SET UP AND READY TO BE MAILED :).
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1. WHAT ARE YOUR CREDENTIALS?
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2. WHAT ARE YOUR SPECIALTIES?
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3. WHAT PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS DO YOU BELONG TO?
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4. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN CONDUCTING THERAPY?
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5. WHAT EXPERIENCE HAVE YOU HAD IN TREATING DISSOCIATIVE DISORDERS
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6. HOW DO YOU APPROACH TREATMENT OF DISSOCIATIVE DISORDERS?
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7. WHAT DO YOU CHARGE?
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8. DO YOU ACCEPT INSURANCE? IF SO, WHICH TYPES?
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9. DO YOU HAVE A SLIDING FEE SCALE? IF SO HOW IS PAYMENT DETERMINED?
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10. DO YOU BILL PEOPLE, OR IS PAYMENT EXPECTED AT THE TIME OF THE SESSION?
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OK ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS SO FAR, IF NOT WE WILL CONTINUE ON.....

11. HOW DO YOU PROTECT CLIENT CONFIDENTIALITY? WHO (BESIDES YOU) WILL HAVE ACCESS TO MY FILES?
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12. HOW LONG IS EACH SESSION? ARE THERE EXCEPTIONS TO THIS? IF SO WHAT ARE THEY?
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13. HAS ANYONE EVER LODGED A FORMAL COMPLAINT AGAINST YOU?
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14. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN CENSURED BY A PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION?
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15. IF I WERE IN CRISIS, WOULD I BE ABLE TO REACH YOU? HOW DO YOU HANDLE CRISES?
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OK ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THESE? IF NOT WE WILL CONTINUE ON.......

16. WHAT IS YOUR POLICY ABOUT MISSED SESSIONS?
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17. WHAT IS YOUR POLICY ABOUT PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH CLIENTS?
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18. WHAT IS YOUR POLICY ABOUT CONTACT OUTSIDE OF SESSION?
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19. DO YOU ARRANGE VACATION COVERAGE?
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20. WHAT HAPPENS IF ONE OF US DECIDES TO TERMINATE WITHOUT THE OTHER'S AGREEMENT?
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21. DO YOU THINK YOU CAN HELP ME?
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22. IS THERE ANYTHING I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR SERVICES THAT I DIDN'T THINK TO ASK?
is the T planning on leaving the practice any time soon? hard to get started then have them

CHECKLIST FOR YOURSELF

OK IN THIS NEXT SESSION IS A CHECK LIST YOU CAN MAKE UP FOR YOURSELF TO USE AFTER YOUR INTERVIEW....
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1. I FELT SAFE AND REASONABLY COMFORTABLE
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2. I FELT UNDERSTOOD AND TAKEN SERIOUSLY
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3. I WAS TREATED RESPECTFULLY
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4. WE AGREED ABOUT THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM
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5. THIS FEELS LIKE IT COULD BE A GOOD "MATCH"
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6. MY QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED ADEQUATELY
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7. MY TREATMENT GOALS WERE ADDRESSED
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8. THIS INDIVIDUAL IS CLINICALLY QUALIFIED
.
9. I CAN AFFORD IT
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10. I CAN GET THERE WITH REASONABLE EASE
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OVERALL IMPRESSION:
GOOD...
FAIR....
POOR...

TAKING STOCK OF THE PROCESS

TAKING STOCK OF THE PROCESS.......
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THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF YOUR THERAPY YOU WILL NEED TO BE MINDFUL THAT YOUR WORK IS PRODUCTIVE AND CONTINUES TO BE HELPFUL.
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IN HELPFUL THERAPY RELATIONSHIPS, THE CLIENT FEELS UNDERSTOOD AND SUPPORTED, AND WHILE THERAPY IS NOT ALWAYS A COMFORTABLE EXPERIENCE, THERE SHOULD BE A SENSE OF TRUST AND WARMTH.
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IF YOU DO NOT FEEL RESPECTED, VALUED OR UNDERSTOOD, OR IF YOUR EXPERIENCE IS BEING MINIMIZED OR DISTORTED, IT MAY BE A SIGN THAT YOUR THERAPY IS NOT WORKING.
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IF YOU FEEL THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG IN YOUR THERAPY, OR IF YOU GET UPSET OR ANGRY WITH YOUR THERAPIST, DISCUSS IT IN YOUR SESSION.
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IF YOUR THERAPIST DISCOUNTS YOUR FEELINGS OR RESPONDS IN A DEFENSIVE MANNER, YOU CAN CHOOSE TO SWITCH TO A DIFFERENT MORE RESPECTFUL THERAPIST.
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ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ?

IF YOU ARE WORKING WITH A HELPFUL THERAPIST, YOU WILL BEGIN TO BE ABLE TO BETTER RECOGNIZE AND UNDERSTAND YOUR FEELINGS, THOUGHTS, AND BEHAVIORS.
.
PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT THESE THINGS DON'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT SO TO SPEAK.
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YOU WILL ALSO BEGIN TO DEVELOP NEW, MORE EFFECTIVE COPING STRATEGIES, AND YOU SHOULD HAVE A SENSE OF CHANGE AND INCREASED SATISFACTION IN YOUR LIFE.
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OVER TIME, YOU SHOULD BEGIN TO FEEL MORE AND MORE INDEPENDENT AND ABLE TO USE THE SKILL AND INSIGHTS YOU ARE LEARNING IN THERAPY TO SOLVE YOUR OWN PROBLEMS.

WARNING SIGNS

OK IN THIS LAST PART I WOULD LIKE TO COVER SOME WARNING SIGNS THAT SOMETHING MAY BE WRONG WITH THE CLIENT/THERAPIST RELATIONSHIP..........
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1. THE THERAPIST DOES SOMETHING TOO PERSONAL...FOR EXAMPLE...HAS YOU DO SOME WORK AT THEIR HOME OR BORROWS YOU THEIR CAR.
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2. THE THERAPIST ALLOWS A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU THAT IS OUTSIDE OF THE THERAPEUTIC RELATIONSHIP, LIKE A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP.
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3. THE THERAPIST AVOIDS EMOTIONAL ISSUES, BUT TALKS ABOUT OTHER THINGS.
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4. THE THERAPIST SAYS UNSUPPORTIVE, BELITTLING OR CRUEL THINGS.
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5. THE THERAPIST DOES NOT UPHOLD CONFIDENTIALITY WITH UTMOST CARE.
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6. THE THERAPIST EXPRESSES MISGIVINGS ABOUT HIS/HER ABILITY TO BE HELPFUL TO YOU EARLY IN THE RELATIONSHIP.
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7. THE THERAPIST USES YOU IN GROUP, GETS YOU TO TALK ABOUT YOUR STORY IN GROUP WHETHER OR NOT IT IS HELPFUL TO YOU.
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8. THE THERAPIST SEEMS TO INTERESTED IN YOUR STORY ALMOST LIKE THEY GET OFF ON HEARING IT.





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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-02-2006
Wed, 07-19-2006 - 4:24pm

Thanks for posting this. It is very beneficial to our board members:)


Peace, Love & Light,
Traci