How do you find an effective therapist?

I have done well with practitioners who use CBT in their methods, as it employs actual ways of changing one’s approach to damaging thought processes. My last therapist couldn’t prescribe ( she’s an MSW licensed for therapeutic practice) but worked closely with a psychiatrist for the purposes of medication, if necessary.
I prefer not dealing with a psychiatrist directly, as I have found that they have a more medical approach.

As to how to find your person, maybe they have internet profiles that discuss their individual philosophy and approach? I really can’t help you, there, I’m sorry.

Best of luck with this, @DigitalBlue, it can be a daunting task to find an appropriate practitioner.

My last selection was based on internet profiles, so that is out. There is a limited pool to choose from in this area and that’s why I was hoping to go on credentials. I’ve tried pulling names out of a hat and I’ve tried selecting based no the few profiles I was able to find.
I have not ever done CBT and it’s probably what I need, but how do I find someone who uses something like CBT and who does not suggest that I need to open my chakras or breathe like Darth Vader? My sister swears I have a special talent for sniffing out some real quacks and I think she’s right.

Sounds like your sister is right! ;-)
OK, here’s an idea that may seem a bit out there, but a friend of mine had some success. Maybe ask a clergy person for some referrals. My friend asked a rabbi in her small town, because she (my friend) had heard that he was younger and a bit more progressive than his counterparts at churches in town. But probably most reasonable clergy will have a good working knowledge of the types of practitioners that are in your area. Even if you are not a member of any congregation, you may find a helpful person who will keep your request confidential.

This is not a religious recommendation, but a resource recommendation.

The UUs may also be a good resource, if there are any nearby.

What you’re looking for is a Behaviorist NOT a Psychoanalyst.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a very specific type of training which some therapists may not have had and yet their basic approach is more behaviorally oriented than analytical. Most will tell you where they fall on that spectrum if you ask specifically about that.

In your past searches, have you ever interviewed any of them beforehand, either in person or by phone? It sounds like probably not.

Most professionals have a preferred basic philosophy and treatment approach and can usually sum it up in a few sentences. That should be the first question you should ask them.

Most of them do have some type of interview system in which each of you asks questions of the other (rather than just the therapist asking you.) However, you should make it crystal clear from the first conversation (either with the receptionist or the therapist himself) that you want to schedule an interview to determine if you’re the right fit for each other.

Some therapists will do a brief interview session at no charge (or reduced charge) rather than a full regular session.

If they don’t do that, that’s not a good sign. If it were me, I’d cross them off my list.

After all, you are the consumer and have every right to make an informed decision about the best provider for your mental health.

Since there aren’t that many in your area to choose from, it’s even more important to interview as many as possible before deciding.

And from past experience, it seems as if you have a pretty good idea of what you DON’T want.

One other thought. Does your sister live nearby? Would she be available to go to the initial interview with you? She sounds as if she has a good head on her shoulders (as well as having your best interests at heart)

I asked my physician for a recommendation, and that worked out pretty well. My mother gave me the name of someone for marriage therapy (she is a social worker) and he pretty much saved our marriage.

Psychiatrists are physicians who are trained to diagnose and treat mental illness… mostly through medication. I have a psychiatrist (who I haven’t seen in years, but like very much) who could prescribe me medication, but she wouldn’t give me therapy.

This has a general comparison between the types of mental health workers.

@Buttonstc she lives nearby, she recommended her own therapist, but that wasn’t an option as it is considered a conflict of interest. I don’t think that I need help choosing a therapist, I’m not a poor judge of ability, I just have bad luck. I have never interviewed a therapist beforehand, it has never been offered as an option, I usually try to research someone online as much as possible before making an appointment but as I said above, the local options are extremely limited. I didn’t even know that was possible to interview them as I have never known anyone to do it. That would help a ton.

I interviewed my last one by phone, when I first called. It wasn’t announced as an interview, more of a casual convo, but she probably knew what I was doing. I did make it clear that I needed to feel compatible.
I saw her for nine years, she helped me a lot, and I can utilize a lot of the techniques still.

It’s certainly not an unreasonable request for a person to make. And most therapists have a method for accomodating that. I suppose that not as many potential patients request it as should.

But if you don’t ask, you don’t get :)

Most of these places are clinics. For example, the place that I called yesterday, I had asked for the names of the people that would be covered under my insurance. They gave me names, but then when I called back, they gave me different names. How do you specify who you’d like to interview in a practice that has multiple clinicians? At this point I don’t even know what I should be asking. An interview would be great, but I would very much love to start off with a baseline that excludes the types of people I’ve been seeing. I’m just not sure how to do that.

Most counselors and therapists suck. You just have try several until you find one you click with. I got a list of recommendations from a prof at the nearby university. I went through several on the list until I found one that was actually helpful.

@ARE_you_kidding_me I’m inclined to believe you. That’s why I wondered if a “psychologist” might be more effective than a “social worker,” for example. I thought the credentials might help to weed through this. I know that many people have great experiences with therapy, but I am getting to the point where I think the whole thing is a sham. I know that isn’t true, but that’s how it feels. It should be much easier to find a therapist and to know their treatment methods than it currently is. This guessing game makes me not want to even bother.

It doesn’t HAVE TO BE a guessing game. But you need to be a little more assertive.

Firstly, ou need to take charge of your conversation with the receptionist rather than vice versa. She’s just doing what they’ve trained her to do. Most people get overwhelmed by a long list of names so presumably they have some type of rotation system.

Call each of these places back and, request the practice’s office manager. Explain to her that you’d like a complete list of each one that is compatible with your insurance. Not a partial list. A complete list.

If you feel comfortable with her then tell her what you’re looking for as well as NOT looking for in a therapist. See if she gives you some feedback as to whom you might be compatible with.

Then explain to her that you’d like to do a brief telephone interview before deciding upon whom to make an appt. with. Ask her how best to arrange scheduling them.

This is all good experience for you learning how to be your own best advocate for yourself in spite of anxiety.

@AYKM

Saying that most therapists suck is taking an unnecessarily harsh view of the situation.

A more accurate way to state it would be that, generally speaking, most credentialed professionals are at least well trained.

But therapy is as much an art as it is a science and finding someone you are compatible with enough to truly trust isn’t always easy. But when you do find the right one for you, it’s worth all the hunting.

But you can’t automatically blame all therapists simply because they were not right for you personally. Obviously they were right for somebody or they wouldn’t be there.

@DB Get busy and ask however many questions you need to in order to find the one that’s right for you. And don’t stop looking until you do.

BTW

One resource that has been extremely helpful for me to find doctors of all sorts, including therapists, has been hospital social workers.

Presumably there’s a hospital nearby. Get an appt. with one and ask for recommendations for therapists who might be right for you after you explain your situation.

Some of the best docs I’ve found wherever I’ve lived have been from a good hospital social worker. Try to find one who is not brand new to the job. An experienced hospital social worker really knows everybody in the area and usually has great common sense for recommendations.

@Buttonstc thanks much for your help!

I had my best success with Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW) rather than Psychologists. Having worked in health care, though, I recognize that the degree has less to do with clinician effectiveness than their genuine motivation to help their patients. So I believe that the key is finding a therapist / counselor with whom you feel safe and comfortable.

My earlier attempts at therapy were also unsuccessful because of my own unwillingness to commit to the process and really put everything into it that I could. After all, the clinician can’t help us with issues that we don’t divulge. The therapist is simply a trained guide – it is still the patient who has to do all the dirty work. If one is not ready, willing and able to put it all out there and really dig in the dirt, then they may just want to wait until they are, and save some frustration, time, and money.

@Buttonstc I really do think most suck. Like 85% I probably tried like nine before I found one that was just “ok”

Great answers above. One more idea: How about asking your sister’s therapist for a recommendation?

@hearkat I think that makes a lot of sense, particularly in cases where there are trust issues or difficulty opening up. That’s not an issue for me, I have never felt uneasy about opening up in therapy, I talk to just about anyone. I would much rather see someone who is clinical or even comes off as cold who can give me specific direction or advice or “homework” that might help me. The therapists I’ve seen have been nice, lovely people, but useless to me in addressing my severe anxiety. I need someone to help me take a sledgehammer to my issues and instead I feel like I’m having a chit chat with an old pal. I want to do the dirty work.

@longgone yes, that is the practice that I spoke to that I had mentioned I will call back to ask about interviews. That is definitely something I’ll try, thanks.

@DigitalBlue – Well then that’s the crucial first step! Since you stated that your geographical area is rather limited, have you investigated any CBT workbooks? Several years back I found one for a friend that was dealing with some issues and was surprised that there were a few that had very favorable reviews.

Personally, most of my behavioral changes were developed long after I was out of therapy – mostly through journals and focusing on changing my self-talk. So since you seem highly motivated, and have a good grasp on your issues, but just need a guide, a workbook may be better than your therapy options – unless you need a Drill Sergeant or Dr. Phil to give you some verbal slap-downs.

@hearkat nope, I don’t think that I do, I’m pretty good at self motivating. I haven’t ever looked into CBT workbooks but I would be interested in that. The only thing that concerns me is the severity of my anxiety. I feel like I need professional guidance, especially because my last two therapists have come right out and said that my anxiety is particularly stubborn. But, who knows, maybe they were ill equipped to handle my case? Thanks for the suggestion, I’ll check it out.

I have a mental illness. One of my teenage children has a diagnosis, too. She has Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and it affects her greatly.

I have been in therapy with psychologists for 30 years. I’ve been lucky and only had to fire one.

My daughter gets therapy from her psychiatrist who also prescribes medicine to control her anxiety. I see a psychiatrist in addition to my psychologist.

If you don’t currently have medicine, I recommend it. It made a world of difference to my daughter, and it has changed my life all for the better. Only a psychiatrist can prescribe medicine. A psychiatrist is a Medical Doctor. A psychologist holds a PhD.

Other types of caregivers hold various types of degrees.

You may want to look for a psychiatrist along with a therapist specializing in CBT simultaneously.

IMO~
After having some experience with aiding clergy with some work, I would be highly motivated NOT to use them for councilling. There are no laws requiring confidentiality asked of them. Most do not have the background schooling nor professional training that should be in place. Some religions have couples councilling,etc. But again, the law does not stipulate direct schooling and standards.
I was not involved in the religion I helped, yet there was a definite laxness and lack of respect about those seeking clergy council, and when discussing very personal matters with others.
It isn’t like the movies or books where the religious leader dispenses the perfect knowledge, council and common sense when approached…. with the spotlight creating a perfect circle of divine lighting around their now haloed heads.
Some here and there might be wonderful, but as the norm: go to a professionally licensed counsellor.