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South Florida Today
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PURCHASE |
A
GUIDE FOR SEEKING
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
Where there is
no vision, the people perish.
Proverbs 29.18
If you decide to seek therapy, I want it to work for you-and not for the D industry. So I am encouraging you to be an informed consumer, and perhaps a little skeptical of mental health services. Let me begin by saying that therapy works! In fact fifty years of research have unequivocally demonstrated that those in treatment are better off than 80 percent of the people in the no treatment comparison groups. So seeking a therapist to assist you in your efforts can be exactly what you need to inspire the changes you wish to make. But a key factor is finding a therapist that is a good fit-not all therapists are created equal nor are therapist's approaches all a good enough match with your theory of change.
Finding a Therapist
Experience is
not what happens to a man. It is what a man does with what happens to
him.
Aldous Huxley
The best way to start is to call prospective therapists and interview them by phone. It doesn't really matter what professional degree the person holds (social worker, counselor, psychologist, marital and family therapist) or whether he or she has a masters or a doctorate, unless of course you have a real preference or believe that such distinctions are important for you; it is much more critical that you find a person you can work with-who is good fit for you. Get the nuts and bolts questions regarding fees, insurance, and location out of the way with the receptionist or office manager, if there is one. Tell him or her that you are interviewing prospective therapists and would like to schedule a ten minute phone call with the therapist or counselor. An unwillingness to give you ten minutes to ensure a good fit should be all the information you need to cross this one off your list. Respect the therapist's time and keep to the ten minutes. Ask these questions or others you think relevant.
What is your philosophy or orientation of therapy?
How do you think change happens?
What do you think of diagnoses?
How important do you consider collaboration and client participation?
How many sessions do you average per client?
Do you keep outcome data? Tell me about it.
(If they don't monitor progress) Do you mind if I monitor my progress? How are you at taking feedback from clients about the direction of therapy?
Listen for answers that reflect faith in client resources, strengths, and capabilities as the cornerstone of any change. Listen also for an emphasis on having a good relationship and the importance of your participation. Compare the answers with your own views of how change occurs. If the therapist identifies with a particular orientation, reflect about whether it fits your theory of change. If it is different but you still think it has some merit, try it out. Recall that change principally results from your input and participation-you are the star of the therapeutic drama. Research shows that:
1. Change depends on your resources and abilities. Effective therapy utilizes your strengths to create solution possibilities.
2. Change depends on your perceptions of the therapist and the relationship formed in therapy. Effective therapy is based on a strong alliance.
3. Change depends upon addressing what you want, and fitting your views of change and inspiring the hope necessary for action. Effective therapy matches your theory of change.