How To Find The Right Therapist For You:

Choosing the right therapist for you can be a daunting task, but well worth the effort. A skilled therapist can provide a powerful and life-changing experience for you. Therapy has been shown to be effective for a variety of illnesses and problems.

Start by:
1. Getting a referral from someone you trust such as your medical doctor or a friend who had good results with a problem similar to yours.

2. Call local professional organizations such as county psychological associations or mental health organizations and ask for a referral.

3. Call your local hospital. Most keep therapist referral information for various problems.

4. Call your insurance company or affiliated managed care company for a referral in your area. Most have "800" numbers to assist you in finding referrals.

5. Go online to trusted organizations that screen therapists for you. Examples would be Find-A-Therapist at http://www.find-a-therapist.com or call 1-800-therapist for a referral in your area code.

Then, find out more information about therapists on your list:

1. Call the therapist and ask questions about his or her style of therapy and training, fee structure, cancellation policy, insurance reimbursement, length of time in practice, and if they have experience with working with your particular problems or issues.

2. Give some thought to whether you would prefer to see a man or women therapist.

3. Therapists work in many different styles and approaches and, like everybody, have unique personalities. You should feel comfortable with the style and approach of your therapist. But, don't make up your mind on the first visit; sometimes it takes several visits to decide if a therapist is right for you.

Remember, sometimes you need to shop around awhile to find the right fit.

4. Be sure to ask about the therapist's license. While not all therapists are required to licenses by all states, and while licensure is no guarantee of quality, it is always a good idea to know if your therapist has met the requirements for education and training mandated by your state. You can easily check for licensure or recent complaints against a license by contacting your Secretary of State's office or State Board of Licensing and/or Certification. More

Contributed by Dr. Tony Fiore