How To Find A Therapist

 

What To Ask A Therapist

 

It is very important that you feel comfortable with the therapist you see.  You have every right to ask questions to make sure that who you choose to see will be a good fit for you and that they have the experience to treat the issue you want to work on.

Some good questions to ask are:

  • What is your training or background in treating ______________________(anxiety, depression, behavior problems in children, insomnia etc.)?
  • How much of your current practice involves treating __________________________?
  • Do you feel you have been effective in treating ________________________________?
  • What is your training in Cognitive Behavior Therapy?
  • You want your therapist to talk about advanced workshops they have taken, consulting regularly with other CBT therapists, and any organizations they belong to or certificates they hold in CBT.
  • Are you willing to leave your office if needed to do behavioral therapy?

 

Questions related to specific problems for a therapist using CBT interventions:

For OCD: You want your therapist to talk about and explain Exposure Response Prevention.  You also want to ask about their attitude towards medication which can be very effective in the treatment of OCD.

For Anxiety Disorders: You want your therapist to talk about exposure techniques and behavioral experiments to test out faulty thoughts.

For Depression: You want your therapist to talk about using behavioral activation, thought records and behavioral experiments.

 

Links

Here are some helpful website links that will assist in finding the right therapist for you:

  1. Psychology Today
  2. Mental Health America
  3. ADAA

 

Contact

 

Address

3436 Mendocino Ave, Suite C
Santa Rosa CA 95403

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