How
to Choose a
Counselor or Therapist
The very nature of psychological counseling requires a high degree of trust. Seeking out a stranger with whom to share a deeply personal problem can be a difficult and scary task, complicated further by media portrayals of therapists as eccentric persons needing more help than their clients. Allow us to offer some practical advice.
Your best bet is to rely on a referral from someone you trust -- such as a friend, another health practitioner, or a member of the clergy. Your insurance company may also have a list of qualified providers. Look for a therapist as carefully as you would look for any other important service.
Most of our referrals come from current or past clients, as well as other professionals with whom we have worked in the past. We encourage you to discuss the issue of a counseling referral with your health care provider. Most will welcome the opportunity to refer their patients to qualified specialists when a patient’s concerns are outside of their own expertise. We often work closely with medical providers by providing diagnostic consultations and assuming responsibility for the counseling portion of your care.
If a referral from a friend or health provider is not available, you must do some homework on your own. You may wish to contact one of your state's associations for mental health practitioners. Most such agencies provide referral services to professionals in your area. Some numbers and websites you may want to contact are listed below.
Looking in the Yellow Pages is probably the most risky method of finding a counselor or therapist. Remember that flashy ads do not guarantee quality of service. If you do need to use the Yellow Pages, call several potential providers and speak with them personally before making your decision.
It is usually a good sign when a provider responds quickly and personally to your call and seems to speak competently and comfortably about your problem.
Consider making a list in advance of things you want to know about the therapist and things you want him or her to know about you. You may want to give a brief description of the problem and ask how s/he might approach the issue. If you have particular concerns about religious values, billing and insurance practices, etc., don't hesitate to bring these up. Use both your reasoning and emotional comfort level as guides in making your selection.
In the course of doing your research, there may also be signs that the person you have called is not the right provider for you. Be wary if you have an extraordinarily difficult time reaching the provider or if your calls are not returned. Also, be careful that s/he does not push a particular form of treatment without a full evaluation of your problem.
Consider this first contact as a mutual interview. A competent therapist will know his or her strengths and limitations. And, after speaking together on the phone, you will both have a sense if this will likely be a good match. If the therapist feels that another person will be better for you, she or he often will be able to help you make the right connection.
Picking up the phone is a good place to start. We wish you well in your search.
We encourage you to learn more about each of the Therapists and Counselors at the Springcreek Counseling Offices
Springcreek Counseling Offices • 15100 SW Boones Ferry Rd. • Lake Oswego, OR 97035