How to choose a psychotherapist in nyc

25 GUIDELINES ON HOW TO

CHOOSE A PSYCHOTHERAPISTwww.spiral2grow.com

HOW TO CHOOSE

A PSYCHOTHERAPIST

IN NEW YORK CITY

25 GUIDELINES

www.spiral2grow.com

http://www.spiral2grow.com/



If you are looking for a psychotherapist or a therapist or you are already in counseling, consider the checklist below. This list could also be helpful to assess the ability of the psychotherapist to meet your needs and provide you with effective therapy treatment.

The following is a list of 25 major guidelines on how to

choose a psychotherapist in New York City or in any

other place that is right for you.

FIND A THEAPIST WHO:



You have to find a good match for your personality.

Find a therapist with whom you feel comfortable and is warm and accepting.

The therapist should create a nurturing and safe environment for therapy, yet is willing to challenge you when necessary.

01. MAKES YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE



Choose a therapist that is non-judgmental.

The therapist should meet you where you are.

A therapist should respect you as an individual, your background, your opinions as well as your decisions.

02. ACCEPT YOU



A therapist should be someone you have a rapport with and someone you can trust.

If you cannot be open with your therapist, then you will not get the help you need and the results you want.

Trust is Key to any healthy and constructive relationship, particularly psychotherapy.

03. CAN BE TRUSTED



A therapist should be educated, an expert in the field

and competent.

The psychotherapist should have the necessary

credentials/licenses ,

such as LMFT – License Marriage and Family Therapist.

If a therapist breaks appointments often, arrives late, or

allows interruptions, consider leaving the therapist.

04. IS EXPERINCED AND PROFESSIONAL



Psychotherapists are human being. Some are healthier than others.

A therapist should feel comfortable with himself/herself and not seem anxious, arrogant or depressed.

Look for someone who appears confident (not arrogant) and is relaxed.

05. IS EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY



The therapist should always be respectful and decent, and never condescending.

Effective therapy takes place in the context of a respectful, equal therapeutic alliance between two individuals.

06. IS RESPECTFUL



Regardless of the best effort put forth by the therapist and the client, NO ONE can guarantee results.

Be careful when a therapist PROMISES you results. However, if after two months you don't see/feel some change, consider replacing your therapist

07. DOES NOT GUARANTEE RESULTS



Before a first meeting, a therapist should be available to have a 10 to 15 minute phone conversation so that you can interview him/her and get a sense of his/her style and your comfort level.

Also, the therapist should be able to accept the idea that clients are entitled to shop around before they commit to any therapist.

08. IS AVAILABLE FOR A PHONE INTERVIEW



A therapist should provide you with a clear policy and guidelines, including confidentiality, a consent form, clients' rights, etc.

Therapeutic guidelines are important for establishing healthy boundaries and procedures that clarify rules of engagement.

Therapeutic guidelines provide the framework in which a successful counseling takes place.

09. PROVIDES THERAPEUTIC GUIDELINES



The therapist should allow you to explain your problems and patiently listen and not diagnose you prematurely.

Patience is an invaluable skill that all therapists should demonstrate and also teach their clients.

10. IS PATIENT



A therapist who is too silent or too talkative is not going to be a good fit for most people.

If the therapist does not promote interactive dialogue, does not answer most questions or pretends to be a "blank screen," consider changing your therapist.

Proactively is the difference between talking and acting.

11. IS PROACTIVE AND ENGAGED



A therapist should accept the idea that a consultation or second opinion may be helpful in the course of therapy.

Psychotherapist should have humility and be open-mind to the variety way of thinking and possibilities.

Be open-minded allows us to see things in a new, non-judgmental and creative way, which are the foundation of innovative solutions.

12. IS OPEN-MINDED



A therapist should be flexible in his clinical orientation and fit his/her model to the client's specific problems/needs instead of imposing his/her approach on all patients.

A good therapist begins with the needs of the client and then moves forward to find the appropriate intervention.

13. HAS FLEXIBLE APPROACH



The therapist should recognize the needs of the client to work outside the therapy room, so greater skills internalization will take place.

The therapist should provide assignments from time-to-time to reinforce the therapy process.

Client compliance with therapy assignment is one of the crucial therapeutic skills that determine the success of the intervention.

14. PPROVIDES ASSIGNMENT



The therapist can be reached by phone or email to briefly discuss the crisis.

Psychotherapist can help individuals deal with the crisis by offering assistance, guidance and support.

15. IS AVAILABE IN CRISIS



At times, it is helpful to bring your friend/partner, child, parent, etc with you to therapy.

The therapist should be flexible in terms of who can participate in sessions as well as the frequency of the sessions.

16. ALLOWS A VARIETY OF PARTICIPANTS



It is critical to maintain clear and healthy boundaries.

No business offers are permitted. Any sexual relationship is malpractice.

If you feel something is wrong with the relationship or if you feel exploited in ANY way, seriously consider leaving the therapist.

17. MAINTAINS BOUNDARIES



While it is important to discuss the background and childhood of the client, the therapist must help the client deal with real-present life issues.

There is no point of dealing with the past without its applicability to the present moment and addressing present challenges.

18. ADDRESSES PRESENT CHALLANGES



A therapist should not make your decisions, but rather provide you with the skills and the process to understand your situation, the options available and their consequences to allow you to make the decision.

The clients should be empowered to make their decisions based on their values, belief system, priorities and cost-benefit analysis.

19. DOESN’T MAKE DECISIONS FOR YOU



A therapist should conduct regular evaluations regarding the progress of the therapy and revise his/her intervention accordingly

An effective monitoring and evaluation is required to determine how well the therapeutic intervention meets its objectives and serves the client.

20. CONDUCTS ONGOING EVALUATION



A therapist is expected to be authentic and real• while keeping in mind that the therapy is about the client.

A therapist who reveals too much or irrelevant information about himself/herself is taking the therapy away from being productive.

21. IS AUTHENTIC AND CLIENT-CENTERED



22. IS OPEN TO FEEDBACK



A therapist shouldn't be too eager to please and need to do the right thing.

Instead, the therapist should challenge his client and be proactive and deal with his issues.

23. IS NOT EAGER TO PLEASE



Sweeping issues under the rug can only work for so long.

Over time continual power struggles create erosion in the

relationship. Couples build deep-seated resentment and

anger that are hard to forgive and forget.

A healthy intimate relationship is built on trust and

vulnerability which involves sharing your innermost

feelings, thoughts, and wishes.

It's important to remember that all couples have perpetual

relationship problems and can develop tools to deal with them.

In this regard, professional help can help. Please feel free.

24. COMMUNICATES CLEARLY



The therapist is inadvertently acting as a role model for clients.

Modeling an interest in self-exploration, an accepting attitude toward feeling, and the ability to regulate feelings and behavior is key for good therapist.

The therapist’s style of relating to another person that is respectful, compassionate and equal is important.

25. SERVES AS A ROLE MODEL



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How to choose a psychotherapist in nyc

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