How Do I Know Which Type Of Therapy Will Work For Me?
Question: I feel that there are a number of "blockages" in my life at the moment and have taken some time out to try to heal myself. I am really interested in moving forward but feel quite bamboozled by the number of modalities. How do I know which type of therapy will work for me? Or do I just leap in, pick a local therapist and go from there?
Answer (1) There are many ways of choosing a therapist modality and as you've already alluded to, you might not know which is best for you until you've had some experience with one or two of the many that are out there. From my perspective, most modalities have something to offer. Bear in mind though, it is not as much the modality that helps people heal as the relationship between the client and therapist. Therefore you need to choose someone who you feel you can trust enough to say what you need to say.
Talking to any potential therapist on the phone before the first session is often a good idea. The modality is important but more so for the therapist to provide a road map of where they are walking with you. You can always ask further questions on this subject via the forum and I will respond again or perhaps others will give their responses too. Best wishes for your healing journey.
Answer provided by Scott Jordan, Psychotherapist
Answer (2) Real therapy is primarily about relationship, not technique. The techniques are only a blue print of how the therapist makes sense of the origin and solving of human problems. It is rarely the deciding factor as to effectiveness. Having said this though, I must say, that it sometimes can be. I would advise you to stick to the mainstream, tried and tested methodologies. Simply because those practitioners will have to have passed a certain, approved training standard, are more likely to be receiving regular clinical supervision and are also more likely to belong to bona fide, professional organisations, which can ensure the maintenance of proper standards.
Don't just play eeny-meeny-miny-moe with potentially one of the most important decisions of your life. To start with, have a good look at the Good Therapy practitioner profiles and see if you feel one of them may suit. Get in touch with anyone that interests you, have a chat and ask the necessary questions.
Answer provided by David White, Psychotherapist
Answer (3) If you have looked at the Modalities listed on the Good Therapy site, you may have ended up with too much information to process, especially if this is the first time you have considered counselling. It is worth noting that many practitioners will draw on a number of modalities depending on the client's presenting issues and the impacts these have on the client's life. To narrow down the possibilities, have you tried simply eliminating all those which do not strike a chord with you and your comfort? You would be trusting your instinct or unconscious judgement here, often the source of best decisions about what is "right" for us. This done, you could check out the profiles of a few practitioners who work that way, then call one or three in your area. Have your questions ready, and listen to how the therapists respond to you.
Go with your best, informed guess and make an appointment. It is only then that you get to field test your selected practitioner to see if it works for you. If not, say so. If it still does not work, try another for "fit". We do this with doctors and dentists, telephone companies and detergents, too. You could take pot luck as you suggested, but you deserve to maximise your chances of a good connection from the start. Good luck.
Answer provided by John Hunter, Counsellor
