Choosing a counselor can be difficult and can sometimes feel like guesswork, let me help. 

You might be wondering:  Where else can I look for a counselor?  Should I use the Internet?How much does it cost?  Should I see a man or a woman? What is an MFT, MSW, PsyD, MD? Why are they called "shrinks"? How do I find a therapist with specific traits: like smart...older...younger...specialized...experienced...nice?  

I have compiled a few useful tips, advice, and thoughts on this topic from myself, my colleagues, and my library.

Age and Gender
It may seem that the age or gender of your therapist is an important quality to consider when selecting who you will work with.  As it turns out, many clients find that the different perspective of a therapist from another age group, gender, or even generation can lead to greater understanding of their individual issues.  Many therapists believe that it is best to work with somebody around your own age because they may have a similar perspective about what brings you in.  Most people come to therapy because they are stuck and are having trouble thinking about how to get moving in the right direction again.  New perspectives can be invaluable at times like these.  Regarding gender, it is sometimes helpful to pick a therapist from the gender that you may have more difficulty relating to.  For instance, if you are struggling with your relationships with men, it may be helpful to work with a male therapist. 

My therapist will not understand me
My therapist will not understand my problem because they have not experienced it themselves.  This is a very common thought when people seek therapy.  If my therapist has never had children, how can they help me with my parenting?  Well, when we go to see a doctor for a broken bone, we rarely think to ask them if they have ever broken their own leg.  It is simply understood that they have education, training, and experience that will help them work with a variety of problems without having experienced it themselves.  It is the same process with therapy.  We are trained to work with all kinds of people and all types of problems. In fact, a therapist who has not had a similar experience as you, may be even more helpful because they will not be clouded by their own particular bias and belief system.  No experience is truly the same and having a therapist who is open to understanding your perspective rather than using their own judgement of their own similar experience to help you. 

Trust your instincts
Set up some meeting.  Meet a few therapists and trust your gut reaction to whether you feel comfortable  with this person and decide if they can help you.  First impressions have a lot of value and you can let your intuition guide your choice.  It is not rude to discuss with your counselor that you are "shopping" for a therapist and they should not be offended if you choose to not continue with treatment.

If you have more questions or you want some information about counseling resources in your area, please feel free to Contact Me.