Seeking therapy to improve one’s mental health or assist with navigating life’s challenges has increased over the past few years. Many people desire emotional maturity, which requires healing from the past and learning healthy concepts to overcome present and future obstacles. Therapists offer an unbiased, fact-based, and professional approach that can guide clients to emotional wellness. Be that as it may, you won’t always hit it off with the first therapist you choose.
Is Your Therapist A Match?
When searching for a therapist, it’s common to prioritize factors like location, service offerings, client rapport, and affordability. However, compatibility and other essential elements are often overlooked. No matter how educated or trained a therapist is, it hinders the healing process if you don’t connect with them intellectually, emotionally, or socially; it inhibits the healing process.
Ultimately, sticking with a therapeutic process that isn’t effective is a waste of time and money. So, how do you know if your therapist is a match or if it’s time to find someone new? Continue reading for advice.
LGBT Certified
Specialization is an important factor when selecting a therapist. You want someone that has education, training, and experience in the area of your needs. For example, going to a traditional couples counselor may not work well for a same-sex couple. Your relationship dynamics, conditions, and interests often differ from heterosexual couples. However, working with a couples therapist with an LGBT certificate ensures you get the personalized assistance you need to strengthen your relationship.
Opening Up Is Uncomfortable
You can only reap the benefits of therapy if you’re willing to be open and honest about your issues. While being vulnerable with a stranger can be difficult initially, you may need to switch therapists if it’s still a struggle after several sessions. Your unwillingness to share could be because you don’t mesh well with your counselor. You may feel like you can’t trust them or feel judged when you express yourself. Either way, it prevents you from getting to the core of the problem and finding a resolution.
They Don’t Value Your Time
Is your therapist always late to appointments? Perhaps they frequently reschedule or seem distracted during your sessions. These actions convey that they don’t value your time or care about your issues. If it’s common practice, it could cause you to disconnect and minimize the outcome of your therapeutic journey. Find another therapist instead of wasting any more time or money.
You Don’t See Results
Improving your emotional well-being isn’t an overnight process; however, you should be able to see some progress after a few visits. If you’re being open and honest with your therapist, asking for advice, and following their suggestions with little to no impact, it may be time to move on. A therapist should continue addressing an issue and providing different insights, perspectives, and potential solutions until you reach your goals. If they don’t seem committed to helping you change, you should start looking for someone that cares.
Crossed Boundaries
There are certain lines that a therapist should never cross with their clients. They’re also trained to identify patient red flags that could cause issues. For instance, a therapist should never try to come on to you verbally or physically. They should not try to be your friend or socialize with you outside of sessions.
A therapist should never share your information with anyone without your consent. Lastly, if a counselor believes their patient is becoming too dependent or emotionally attached, they are supposed to recommend you to another professional. You should report the issue and find another therapist if these boundaries are violated.
Therapy is an essential yet intimate process. If the relationship between the patient and therapist is nonexistent, strained, or underdeveloped, it inhibits the healing process. Although location, affordability, and reputation are all important factors when selecting a therapist, you mustn’t overlook specialization, connection, and comfortability. If you’ve noticed any of the red flags above, it may be a sign that you need to find a more suitable mental health professional.
Last modified: October 18, 2022
