Choosing the right therapist
In deciding whether you can benefit from counseling or psychotherapy, my rule of thumb is to ask how intense and disruptive the problem has been in your work or personal life. If the emotional pain has become a consistent and recurring drain on your energy and well-being, the next step is to find the right therapist.
Unfortunately, finding the right therapist is not always a straightforward process. Recommendations may come from friends, neighbors, clergy, or from websites like this. It's often useful to contact two or three therapists and arrange for a brief interview over the phone. The first thing you might ask is: Does the therapist you are interviewing have training and experience treating the problem you bring? Ask yourself if you are likely to feel safe talking to this person about your inner thoughts and feelings. Finally, as the treatment goes on, you should begin to notice a growing trust in the therapist and in her/his competence and care. It's important to remember, though, that building this trust can take time.
