Guidelines on Choosing a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist
If your thought patterns are impeding your ability to function normally, it is time you sought for help. Working with the right cognitive behavioral therapist can help you address relationship issues, low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and other things that cause you distress. Understand that only the right professional can offer tangible help. To be on the safe side, it is important to research the traits of a reliable therapist before choosing one. If you are choosing a therapist over the internet, be careful not to fall prey to providers that only promise.
Consider education and training prior to making a decision. A professional with proper education in any field stands a better chance of offering quality support after their training in cognitive behavioral therapy. If possible, look for a professional with a background in fields such as psychology and social work. You should also not ignore the level of training they have in cognitive and behavioral psychology. The higher the level of specialized training a provider has, the more effective their services are likely to be. It pays to ensure that they have received their training from a reputable school. Ensure that they usually take continuing education classes.
Experience is very important. A provider with conclusive CBT training but one that has never put it in practice is likely to let you down. It is advisable to focus on professionals that have been offering such therapy for many years. Most importantly, they should have been doing the same actively. It pays to consider their level of experience in the area you need help in. If you are struggling with depression, low self-esteem, PTSD, etc, you need a professional that has helped hundreds of individuals with issues similar to yours. Do not ignore the types of reviews they have from past clients.
Consider communication and their personality before choosing a provider. A potential therapist could be seasoned. If they are poor regarding communication, however, chances are high that they would not afford you quality help. The expert, for instance, should communicate clearly regarding the goals both of you should work towards. They should also be clear concerning the approaches they would employ towards attaining those goals. The expert will also need to update you on the progress of the therapy. Make sure that their personality complements yours. You can only open up to a provider that you like and one you feel comfortable around.
It pays to ask about fees. While you should not choose one based on fees only, service charge is a factor that you should not overlook. A reliable professional should also be willing to give you conclusive information regarding fees and their payment plan. If the expert would be billing you per session, get to know how long each session is likely to take and how many sessions you are going to need. Ask concerning their policies for missed sessions. Do they bill clients for missed sessions? If you have insurance, ensure that it covers CBT and that the therapist would accept it.