A Guide to Choosing a Psychotherapist
Finding a therapist can be an intimidating process for many people. To help guide clients in making this decision, these are three major areas to evaluate when selecting the right therapist.
First, it is important to consider practical concerns when choosing a therapist. We encourage clients to research the therapist they are looking into to determine whether they accept clients’ insurance and whether their services are affordable for the client (American Psychological Association, 2019). Beyond financial concerns, it is important to find out whether a therapist has expertise that is relevant to a client’s individual needs. For example, if a client has a previous diagnosis of Bipolar I Disorder, they will want to see a therapist who is experienced in treating people with this disorder. Websites like Psychology Today (www.psychologytoday.com) are helpful resources for learning about therapists’ areas of experience and financial requirements.
Another important characteristic to pay attention to when picking out a therapist is flexibility. A good therapist is able to adapt treatment methods to best fit the client as an individual (Webb et al., 2010). Rather than treating clients with a one-size-fits-all approach, the right therapist will have the flexibility to adjust an individual’s treatment based on their needs and abilities. Effective therapists are also adept at managing criticism and, if necessary, flexible enough to change their approach accordingly (Heinonen & Nissen-Lie, 2020).
Finally, some of the most critical traits to look for in a therapist are emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills. Emotional intelligence, which involves being able to understand and manage emotions, is related to positive therapy outcomes and increased empathy (Reick & Callahan, 2013). Empathy itself is associated with better therapy outcomes (Heinonen & Nissen-Lie, 2020). Similarly, interpersonal skills are strongly related to positive therapy results (Schöttke et al., 2017). Therapists with greater emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills will behave in ways associated with more effective therapy, showing warmth, strength when needed, openness, and clear and positive communication (Heinonen & Nissen-Lie, 2020).
If you have further questions about how to choose a therapist or about our services, contact our office at info@williamspsychological.org for more information.
References:
American Psychological Association. (2019, October 17). How to choose a psychologist. https://www.apa.org/topics/psychotherapy/choose-therapist
Heinonen, E., & Nissen-Lie, H. A. (2020). The professional and personal characteristics of effective psychotherapists: A systematic review. Psychotherapy Research : Journal of the Society for Psychotherapy Research, 30(4), 417–432.
Rieck, T., & Callahan, J. L. (2013). Emotional intelligence and psychotherapy outcomes in the training clinic. Training and Education in Professional Psychology, 7(1), 42–52. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0031659
Schöttke, H., Flückiger, C., Goldberg, S. B., Eversmann, J., & Lange, J. (2017). Predicting psychotherapy outcome based on therapist interpersonal skills: A five-year longitudinal study of a therapist assessment protocol. Psychotherapy Research, 27(6), 642–652. https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2015.1125546
Webb, C. A., DeRubeis, R. J., & Barber, J. P. (2010). Therapist adherence/competence and treatment outcome: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 78(2), 200–211. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0018912
