How to Find the Right Therapist/Coach/Healer
To be completely transparent, I have been immersed in this field for as long as I can remember. I have a deep affinity for personal development and have explored various healing modalities since my teenage years. Through this journey, I've come to understand that therapy is a valuable gift to oneself, a rejuvenating investment that fosters personal growth. However, I've also encountered challenges when seeking the right healer, expert, or therapist. Here are some questions I wish I had on hand before embarking on a therapeutic journey:
TOP 7 tips for finding the right therapist, healer, or coach
1. What is their philosophy of healing?
During your consultation call with a potential therapist, inquire about their approach to healing. It's essential to align your core values and goals before proceeding. Ask about their definition of success, how they measure progress, and their perspective on healing and wellness. This insight will reveal the framework guiding the therapeutic relationship.
2. Do they seek therapy or supervision frequently?
While it may feel bold, asking whether the therapist engages in personal therapy or supervision is crucial. This practice ensures a higher quality of care, attunement, compassion, and containment. Therapeutic work is relational, and therapists working on themselves minimize their biases and contribute to a compassionate understanding of your experience.
3. Do they prioritize their well-being?
Inquire about how the therapist manages their well-being in daily life. Learn about their schedule, stress management techniques, mindfulness practices, physical activity, or hobbies. Understanding their self-care practices can reflect their commitment to providing quality care.
4. What populations do they serve, and how is this reflected in their social location?
Consider the social location of your therapist, as it can impact the therapeutic relationship. Ask about the populations they typically work with, their experiences supporting individuals from diverse backgrounds, and their approaches to various cultural, religious, and identity aspects. Ensuring a comfortable fit and understanding is essential.The social location of your therapist matters. This doesn't mean you need to have the exact same identity as someone you are working with, but entrusting someone with your narrative and sharing your vulnerability requires understanding how they support various life experiences. Therapist Directory for BIPOC folks
5. Short-Term vs. Long-Term Therapy
Determine your current support needs. If you seek help for a specific issue, short-term therapy may be suitable. Long-term therapy delves into present-day concerns while addressing underlying factors, such as self-sabotaging patterns beliefs and thoughts, dysregulated emotions, relationship patterns, and unresolved trauma. Choose the approach that aligns with your goals.
6. Insurance
If insurance benefits factor into your therapy choice, understand your plan's limitations and coverage. Some plans may only cover psychologists, while others include social workers or psychotherapists. Contact your insurance company to clarify your coverage before consulting with a therapist, to save time. My services are covered as a RP/RP(Q) .
7. Specific Therapy Modalities
While therapy modalities are essential, trust your instincts and prioritize the therapeutic relationship. Sensorimotor, internal family systems (IFS), somatic therapy, emotionally focused therapy, polyvagal,gestalt, EMDR etc. are gaining traction right now in the somatic psychotherapy community. This might be the first filter to finding the right therapist for your needs,, but don't make it the only qualification to work with someone. Trust your instinct. See how you felt heard or supported in that conversation
Looking for 1:1 support?
Now accepting clients for individual somatic therapy in my expanded my private practice. The first step in working together is booking a clarity call to explore if this is the right fit for both of us.