Finding YOUR Therapist
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Low-cost mental health services in Southern California, specializing in trauma.
By Jaimee Beck, APCC
Therapy is often portrayed the same way in television and movies: the client lies on the couch, talking non-stop and the therapist provides little-to-no response and takes notes. It appears very impersonal, and perhaps you wonder, how can it help for someone to just sit there while you speak? If you were to enter therapy some 70 years ago, you may find yourself experiencing the description above, but a lot has changed since then, even if the media depictions of therapy have not.?
Today, therapy often looks much more collaborative with both therapist and client contributing to the direction the therapy takes. Therapy can look very different depending on the therapist’s education and socializations and the client’s background and needs. Each therapist approaches therapy in their own unique way and may alter the approach depending on the specific needs of the client.
The Role of Theory in Therapy
The way in which a therapist approaches therapy depends in large part upon their theoretical orientation. The theoretical orientation of a therapist is defined by the American Psychological Association (APA) as “an organized set of assumptions or preferences… that provides a counselor or clinician with a… framework for understanding a client’s needs and for formulating… specific interventions.” (2020, “APA Dictionary of Psychology: Browse by T” section).?
To further elaborate, Gehart explains, “Counselors use theory to
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According to Gehart, therapists used to select one specific theory in which they became an expert to use with clients, and they would use that specific theory with every client (2016). In recent years, it has become far more common, and expected, for therapists to learn several different theories to use in therapy (Gehart, 2016). Therapist’s now often select and apply a combination of theories they feel will best address each client’s concerns in collaboration with the client. A therapist may have one or several preferred theories they use or are familiar with; however, it would be unrealistic for a therapist to know every counseling theory well enough to utilize. For that reason, searching for a therapist who uses theories that you feel are of particular help to you can ensure you get the best possible help. To determine if the therapist’s theories are right for you, ask your therapist what their preferred interventions are and how those have helped other clients with similar situations in the past.
Some common treatment theories including, Psychodynamic, Adlerian, Person-Centered, Existential, Gestalt, Humanistic, Family Systems, Solution-Focused, Narrative, and Behavioral theories, as well as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and the ever-popular Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
Finding and Working with YOUR Therapist
Finding the right therapist for you may take some time and effort. Each therapist will have their own unique approach to therapy and the therapeutic relationship, so finding the person you feel can best support you in your journey is important. The therapist–client relationship is like any other relationship: there may be some therapists out there you really like and connect with, and some you don’t. So take the time to find the right match for you so you can get the most out of your time in therapy.?
As stated above, therapy does look a bit different for each therapist and each client. Most therapists will adjust their approach depending on the specific client’s needs. That being the case, I often encourage my clients to be honest with me if they feel a specific intervention is helping or not so that I can adjust my approach accordingly. Being honest with your therapist about the effectiveness of treatment along the way ensures that your needs can be addressed in a manner that is helpful and appropriate for you.
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