Finding the Right Therapist for You

Taking the step to begin your therapy journey is huge! Seeking a therapist that suits you and makes you feel comfortable is extremely important. Some times individuals feel as though they can not have choice in their therapist or feel bad about doing too many consultations and not finding the right therapist. Rest assured that this is not the case. It is incredibly important that the therapist you choose to work with is someone you feel connected to and comfortable with. Prior to starting your search, think about writing down or making a list of what is important to you in a therapist. You are allowed to be picky. At Vaughan Counselling and Psychotherapy, there are free consults available to speak to therapists and get to know whether you feel it would be a good fit before beginning sessions.

Things to Keep in Mind When Choosing

1. Therapy is a collaborative process: A therapist should not tell you what decisions to make or what to do in situations. Their role is to listen and support you getting to a solution that you want and that works for you. You should feel comfortable being open and in a space of non-judgement where you can express your authentic self.

2. Honesty and transparency is important: Open communication and check ins about how you feel things are going is important. If your therapist approaches or tools are not helpful for you, being able to vocalize this is also important for your therapy outcomes. You can also say if you disagree or feel like you are on different pages or not understanding one another.

3. You don’t need to be in crisis to have therapy: Therapy does not need to be only used for when there is an issue or crisis happening in your life. This is a big misconception and stigma associated with therapy. Having someone to be open with that’s non-judgemental and offers a different perspective can be important for self care and being able to manage day to day life. It can help maintain your mental health.

4. Trust the process: Therapy should be done consistently and requires a commitment from you as well. Being able to find a therapist that you feel comfortable going regularly and happy to meet with consistently can contribute to progress in achieving your therapeutic goals.

5. In-person Vs. Online: Therapy is offered both in-person and virtually. It is okay for you to explore both to find which works best for yourself as well.

If you are interested in starting your therapy journey, you can book below with one of our therapists:

References:

Gonzalez, P. (2022). 5 things you should know about therapy to find the right therapist - Canadian counselling and Psychotherapy Association. Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. https://www.ccpa-accp.ca/5-things-you-should-know-about-therapy-to-find-the-right-therapist/