How to Find a Therapist in 2024 & Get Better Results
- 1. Identify your #therapygoals
- 2. Find therapists online and offline
- 3. Request a consultation
- 4. Prepare for the meeting
- 5. Choose a therapist you align with
- 6. The first session: Be open and giving during your assessment
- 7. Start with a Beginner’s Mind
- 8. The best time to schedule your sessions
- 9. How to get better results in session
- 10. Do good homework
- 11. Be honest
- 12. Track your own progress
1. Identify your #therapygoals.
- Alignment of Expertise: Different therapists specialize in various areas, such as anxiety, depression, trauma, relationships, etc. Clarifying your therapy goals allows you to search for therapists who have experience and expertise in the specific areas you want to work on. This increases the likelihood that your therapist will be able to effectively address your concerns.
- Personal Connection: Feeling comfortable and connected with your therapist is essential for productive therapy. When you have clarity about your goals, you can assess whether a potential therapist seems like someone you could trust and work well with to achieve those goals. This might involve considering factors like their communication style, empathy, and interpersonal skills.
- Goal-Oriented Therapy: Some therapists specialize in goal-oriented or solution-focused therapy, which emphasizes setting and achieving specific therapeutic goals within a defined timeframe. If you prefer this approach, you can seek out therapists who are known for their effectiveness in guiding clients toward tangible outcomes.
- Collaborative Relationship: Therapy is most effective when it’s a collaborative process between you and your therapist. By discussing your goals upfront during the initial consultations, you can gauge how responsive the therapist is to your needs and whether they are willing to work with you to develop a treatment plan that aligns with your objectives.
2. Find therapists online and offline
3. Request a Consultation
4. Prepare for the Meeting
These counseling consultations help to get a feel for what actually therapy might be like. It’s great to decide it’s a good fit before investing in the real work. Share your biggest concerns in a nutshell vs storytelling how it all started to the problems you’re facing now.
5. Choose a therapist you align with
6. The first session: Be open and giving during your assessment
7. Start with a Beginner’s Mind
Starting with a beginner’s mind in therapy is like showing up to a new video game level without any preconceptions – it opens you up to new experiences and possibilities. Here’s why it’s important:
- Fresh Perspective: Approaching therapy with a beginner’s mind allows you to set aside any preconceived notions or judgments about yourself and your issues. This fresh perspective can help you see things in a new light and discover insights that may have been overlooked.
- Openness to Learning: Just like a beginner learning a new skill, being open-minded in therapy allows you to absorb new ideas, strategies, and coping mechanisms. It creates space for learning and growth, even in areas where you may have felt stuck or resistant before.
- Reduced Expectations: When you come into therapy with a beginner’s mind, you’re less likely to have rigid expectations about how things should be or how quickly you should progress. This can relieve pressure and allow you to engage more fully in the therapeutic process without feeling discouraged by perceived failures or setbacks.
- Increased Curiosity: Embracing a beginner’s mindset encourages curiosity and exploration. You become more willing to ask questions, try new approaches, and delve deeper into understanding yourself and your experiences.
- Enhanced Relationship with Therapist: A beginner’s mind fosters a collaborative and trusting relationship with your therapist. It allows you to approach therapy as a partnership, where both you and your therapist are actively engaged in the process of discovery and healing.
8. The best time to schedule your sessions
9. How to get better results in session
Active participation in counseling sessions is essential for driving your own therapeutic journey forward. By taking ownership of your experiences and engaging openly with your therapist, you empower yourself to make meaningful changes in your life.
Actively participating allows you to collaborate with your therapist, learn new skills, and develop effective coping strategies. Through clear communication and a willingness to explore your thoughts and feelings, you maximize the benefits of therapy, enhancing your self-awareness, problem-solving abilities, and overall well-being.
10. Do good homework
Completing assigned therapy homework is like practicing for a game – it helps you refine your skills and see real progress. By reinforcing concepts learned in sessions and applying them to everyday life, homework solidifies understanding and fosters deeper integration.
It serves as tangible evidence of progress, building both accountability to yourself and your therapist. Research shows that consistent completion of homework enhances therapy outcomes, leading to greater improvements in well-being. Ultimately, investing time and effort in homework accelerates your journey toward a happier, healthier life.
11. Be honest.
12. Track your own progress
Tracking progress enhances motivation, fosters open communication with your therapist, and provides valuable insights into your experiences between sessions. Ultimately, it empowers you to take an active role in your healing journey, leading to greater self-awareness, resilience, and well-being.
Final Thoughts