Food for thought when choosing a counsellor
You may have come across a few directories with many many listings, or pages of Google results when searching for a therapist. Each listing itself provides a lot of information and it can feel like an impossible task to find and choose the right person.
While every choice is deeply personal, I have put together some food for thought to help you find some clarity.
Your gut feeling…
… should not be underestimated! You might be drawn to someone when viewing their photo, reading their information, or looking at their website. Even if you can’t explain why you feel positively about a certain counsellor, your gut might be nudging you towards someone.
Their modality/style…
… impacts what kind of work they can offer you. If you are open to anything and don’t have a specific preference about how you would like to work, the modality is not a decisive factor. However, you might have a feeling about what you would like your sessions to look like (f.ex. using creative methods, learning behavioural tools, focus on a specific trauma, etc.). You can ask potential counsellors, if this is how they work and explore together what draws you to certain methods and what might be beneficial to you.
“Shopping around”…
… is perfectly acceptable and even encouraged, as it is an important relationship you are entering into. There is no obligation to stay with the first counsellor you contact or see - it can helpful to speak to a few potential therapists to get a sense of what feels different with each person. You can be upfront about the fact that you are speaking to other potential counsellors and take your time to come to a decision.
Your practical needs…
… are important. While you may have to make some concessions in terms of weekly session, pay a little more than expected, or drive a little further than you like, it is helpful to be clear on how much you can stretch yourself. Going a little out of your comfort zone is not a bad thing. However, if attending sessions is overly difficult for practical reasons, causes you great anxieties, or serious financial distress, you may find it hard to commit or experience the counselling process as useful.
Their training…
… might not be obvious from their profile or website. Or even if there is a description of their training journey, it might not be clear to you what it means. The important part is, that the therapist has gone through counselling training. Which kind of training might not be the decisive factor for the success of your therapy - the relationship you build will have a big impact. If they mention their training is accredited by a governing body, that is a plus.
Governing bodies…
… are professional organisations that set ethical standards, training requirements, and codes of practice for its members. Bodies such as the BACP or UKCP help protect clients and maintain professional quality by regulating conduct, promoting best practice, and providing oversight and accountability. Counsellors with sufficient training and continuous professional development can register with such bodies to commit to the standards set. For clients, such a registration or accreditation is a signal that this counsellor’s training was deemed sufficient and adherence to ethical practices likely.
Your final decision…
… is not final forever. It can feel as if you have to find the one right counsellor, but it is not as rigid and exclusive as that. We can build therapeutic relationships with several people and each relationship is unique and will facilitate the work in it’s own unique way. There is more than one right path for your journey and if someone feels right at this point in time, that is a good first step.