Finding a therapist

[Cardiganandcuppa]

Where do you start? How do you know what you need? They all cost so much and I can easily imagine a scenario where I blunder in to someone not quite right for me and only realise months and hundreds of pounds later that I’m not better off....

[LaurieFairyCake]

You can search for ones close by on the counselling directory website or the BACP website and read through profiles of those close by.

A lot of them do a low cost first session too so you don’t waste much money on someone you don’t gel with.

[avuncularis]

It's tricky OP, for the reasons you've described. For example, it's very common now for counsellors and psychotherapists to include on their websites a long list of 'issues' they profess to be experienced in working with. But I discovered from a counsellor friend that the reason they do that is so that when prospective clients are googling local counsellors, they show up higher in the results for various counselling issues, eg. bereavement, eating disorders, trauma. The reality is that many of those same counsellors often have little more than a few hours CPD on various discrete issues that their websites claim they are 'qualified' to work with - and charge high hourly fees for. So be aware of that. Of course, there are therapists who've done lots of work with clients with discrete issues, and can genuinely claim to have experience of such, but even then it would be interesting to know how/if their work has had measurable outcomes over time.

Unfortunately, in some parts of the country you won't be spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing a counsellor, and in other regions you might feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of practitioners advertising. At least the latter gives you more choice though. Either way, you ought to be able to email or call the ones you feel might be suitable for you and ask them a few questions to help you gauge whether or not their model or approach seems (even on paper) to hold some promise with regard to your particular difficulties. Perhaps more importantly, do they seem like the sort of person you could imagine having useful interactions with regarding your concerns? See if their website or phone manner gives you a sense of their personality.

Ultimately it may mean you meeting with more than one counsellor, but as Laurie mentioned, some will offer a discount on their usual fee for the first session, to help you get a better idea of what they can offer you. In fact, if they don't offer a reduced first session rate, then unless their publicity screams 'a good fit' for you, I wouldn't touch them! And be very determined with yourself that you'll trust your instincts enough to decline further sessions if it just doesn't feel right to go back.

Hope that helps. Counselling and various psychotherapies can be very worthwhile with the right person, in my experience. But you're right to do your research first!

[Cardiganandcuppa]

My goodness, thank you for that long and thoughtful reply. Thank you both.

You confirmed my hunch re areas of specialism. Everyone seems to offer a bit of everything and internet search optimisation terms did cross my cynical mind

There aren’t loads near me, I live quite rurally. I guess that makes narrowing things down easier...