How to choose a good therapist and not remain stranded
Tips / / December 19, 2019
Nearly 6 million Russians seek professional psychological help in 2014. Figure seems impressive, but that only 4% of the population. data collectedDo the Russians go to the psychotherapist? FOM, and as long as they remain the most fresh.
78% of respondents indicated then that all to no seek the advice in personal matters. Nevertheless, the vast majority of those who have used the help of a therapist, the result remained satisfied (three of four). Therefore, there is reason to believe that the picture could change considerably over the past few years.
In addition, the services began to appear online psychotherapy. In blogs, on television, in popular science books are increasingly talking about how important it is to support the mental health and keep the problem in itself. We will understand which problems are solved psychotherapy, how much it costs and how to recognize a bad professional.
Designate your goals
A specialist should go, if a long time you experience emotions that bring you discomfort. For example, get mad at someone and you can not stop thinking about it. Envious, jealous, bored, frustrated... and it takes you too much. Distracts from the other cases, which would bring joy, not sadness or anger sown.
You spend hours looking at a page of the former or flipping tape Instagram. Pawing with alcohol on Friday evenings. Psychotherapy in this case would mean that you are already tired of wasting time on it. And you're ready to go forward.
When you find yourself at the reception, you will meet the silence. Psychologist or therapist is important to know where to begin you do with what problem come. In order to effectively spend time paid in advance for themselves designate what worries you. You can do it on items in order of priority.
Avoid those who give pledges
Psychologist, psychotherapist and psychiatrist - is the three types of specialists to whom we turn for help. Their services are paid in different ways, but the skills are backed by various levels of education. But they have something in common: none of them will not give you the recipe of happiness. And do not say that to do so properly, and so - no. Their mission - to explore your emotions and experience, to try to find the causes of negative experiences and offer trajectory changes.
"We program for success", "I grant married in 10 days", "to make you happy for a month" - these phrases must be for you red flags. It is better to pass such consultations.
If you suffer from unrequited love or unhappy sluggish career expert will teach how to stop doing it. And begin to feel normal, and maybe even happy. Without a partner, without a dream job, but by itself.
Select the type of specialist
Consultant psychologist
A graduate of the Psychology Department. He has no medical training. And he has no right to make diagnoses or prescribe medicine. It works with mentally healthy people, who are in difficult emotional situations in crisis and dissatisfaction.
The psychologist will examine your character and behavior and help find a solution to specific conflicts in friendship, family or team. These professionals apart from private practice may work as consultants to schools and universities, banks, hospitals, the army and, for example, at work.
Psychotherapist
Physician with postgraduate training and specialization in psychiatry. In comparison, the counselor looks more superficial and only solves a specific problem. It works with the emotion or behavior that a client is not satisfied. By therapist same people probably come with some suffering that they are looking at therapies true cause. This requires a deep and long work.
If the chief psychologist-counselor tools - skills and technology, the main tool of the psychotherapist - himself.
This is a man, ready to listen and not judge. He uses his knowledge of psychology to find the true basis of the patient alarms.
Psychiatrist
A doctor who treats disorders of the psyche, in cases where there are organic changes. And where a simple conversation will not help matters.
For example, depression is often treated successfully work with a therapist. But sometimes found clinical depression in which strays system for the promotion and production of dopamine. Then the person is in principle not able to experience joy. It is the psychiatrist diagnoses and picks up the medication. And with other mental disorders, in which the changes take place at the organic level, and treatment requires medication.
Look for those who regularly passes supervision
Psychotherapists themselves go to psychotherapists. As we noted above, their working tool - your own consciousness and personality. But occasionally stray settings, and then calibration is necessary.
There comes a time when the therapist or a psychologist goes to his supervisor. This process is called supervision.
Do it with two goals: get a second opinion on cases from his practice and get advice on personal problems. Supervision is important because it allows the technician to "nulled" and not to hang unconsciously their problems on clients.
The frequency of individual supervisions. Different schools of psychotherapy is recommended to conduct them from once a month to once a year. In Russia, this practice is not fixed norms. Therefore obliged to pass a therapist supervision impossible.
Pay attention to professional memberships in various organizations. Some of them require their representatives to take supervision. The easiest way to openly ask a specialist, whom you have chosen, whether he passes this procedure. After the reaction you will be able to understand his attitude to his work. Avoid those who say that they do not need supervision.
Do not get fooled by advertising - study options
The most reliable guide is still word of mouth. Pay attention to the specialists, which you recommend to friends and acquaintances.
In addition, by selecting the type of specialist, to determine what level of education you would like it to be. Learn what the psychological faculties of the most reputable in your area.
Browse through a few pages of a search engine. Look for those who work in the convenient place. Record prices for their services and session length. This will allow to identify for themselves the scope of expenses. To not worry about already at the reception that you overpay.
Define frequency techniques for itself
Whatever may have been literate specialist, he is interested in the fact that you came to him on a regular basis. And we do it as often as possible. However, the regularity of sessions really protects the customer and makes treatment more effective.
Perfect start - it's one or two sessions per week.
It all depends on the depth of the problem that you have come. And the intensity of the suffering that it brings you. After the first month of the frequency of visits may become less frequent.
To predict in advance how many receptions will be enough - it is impossible. However, listening to their feelings, even during treatment, you will be able to determine for themselves the optimum frequency and number of sessions.
Remember that you always have the right to stop the therapy. If you want to pay immediately a course of sessions, make a trial admission that the specialist is right for you. And you with him on the same wavelength.
In the US, where psychotherapy services - the rate of mental health, gaining weight debate about the breach of trust doctors. Psychotherapists convince customers that the throwing sessions, they will be unhappy. It paysIn Therapy Forever? Enough Already attention to The New York Times.
According to a study in 2010, which leads the newspaper, 42% of people undergoing psychotherapy, from about 3 to 10 sessions. Only 1 of 9 people is needed more than 20 sessions for the course.
The New York TimesFor these 11% of therapy becomes deadlocked. The study shows: frequently than longer therapy, the less likely that it will be effective. But therapists refuse to acknowledge defeat.
Psychotherapy should not be abused. It should not last forever. Perceive its worth as an effective tool to bridge order in his own mind and go ahead. Already more relaxed and happy person.
highlight budget
Assess your financial opportunities. Debts are unlikely to help you feel comfortable. Financial factor indirectly form for you and the frequency of visits.
If you feel that your anxiety goes beyond the specific problems and are more like suffering with whom you would like to leave, will require a series of treatments. Shall describe their treatment at the cost of a month in advance. And to reduce the other to place the therapist in your regular budget and avoid surprises at the end of the month.
Try a free consultation
Free advice - a good way to determine if you need psychotherapy. If you are a student of a large universitySurely there is provided psychological service, staffed by professors and graduate students of the Psychology Department. Pay attention to it.
In addition, many cities have municipal psychological service. As a general rule, minus free consultations are not as. And that recorded an appointment in advance is necessary. In some cases, even for a month. But it's a great way to decide whether you want to keep and what amount of advice you need.
It may happen that you will find answers to all your concerns at the first session.
A compromise may be an online appointment. In the US, such services have gained popularity. In Russia, there are only two - "Clear"and Sreda. Both projects were launched at the end of 2017. The price is comparable to offline techniques.
Watch out for "red flags" poor professional
The term "red flags" indicate illustrative situations that require your attention. That is something worth thinking about. Noticed something suspicious in communication - put yourself mentally for the red flag. If they typed a lot, you will realize that it is unclean.
A significant reason to abandon the professional - personal antipathy. It is inappropriate to select any other physician, which you only need his skills and responsibilities. But it is important for the success of psychotherapy notesFinding the Right Psychiatrist and / or Psychotherapist MD Fredric Neuman.
The patient does not need to like a surgeon who carries out the operation. But it is important in the case of a psychotherapist or psychiatrist. Therapy with a patient, you are unpleasant, impossible. Whatever it was the reason.
Fredric Neuman, director of the Center for the treatment of anxiety and phobias (USA), MD
A red flag should deliver, if after a short communication therapist persuades you to sign a contract for the long term. Second place, if he says that, throwing therapy, you will lose all the accumulated result. And will fall into the abyss of despair and misery. For this can be put right, and the third.
As indicated by the supervisor of the Moscow Gestalt Institute in an interview with Daria RyazanovHelp yourself: how to choose a therapist, You should have no cause for concern if the therapist asks only pay the last meeting in advance.
The fact is that at some point a customer brings resistance. This is due to the fact that the patient and therapist together reached some weak points. When hurt, you want to immediately drop everything. Paid money are usually a guarantee that this will not happen. And through a bad phase of the customer break.
Daria Ryazanov, the supervisor of the Moscow Gestalt Institute
Normal practice is the fact that you can not get a refund for the reception, if you abandoned it less than a day. This fear and the therapist, and you.
"To see if you fit specialist, - Ryazanov said - and distinguish between the natural resistance of all, I would advise to rely on the appearance of the first two meetings. It should be quite positive. And if the third or fourth time the euphoria gave way to rejection, it is necessary to break through it. And if the first and the second time you have had serious doubts as to the specialist, it is better to change it. "
see also
- Why do not hesitate to go to a therapist →
- 7 common misconceptions about psychotherapy →
- How do you know that it's time for an appointment with the therapist →