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Choosing a therapist, whether in the phone book, or from an insurance provider list, can be a daunting task, but by asking
a few key questions you can reduce the risk of having a poor experience. Give some consideration about how you would feel
working on your issues with a man or a with a woman. Feel free to interview a prospective therapist, asking questions about
their training, how long they have been in practice, and if they are experienced working with the kinds of issues you wish
to work on in therapy. Some Questions to ask:
What are your credentials and training?
How long have you
been in private practice?
Which professional associations do you belong to?
What are your areas of expertise and
specialization?
What specific training do you have in your areas of specialization?
How many clients have you worked
with that have had similar issues to mine?
Has anyone ever made a complaint against you?
If so, how was it resolved?
What are your beliefs about how therapy should work?
What do you do during sessions and what do you expect from
a client during and between sessions?
Can I contact you in an emergency?
Because you deserve a competent professional,
it is important to get as much information about a therapist as possible before entering into a therapeutic relationship with
him or her. Remember, you will be sharing very personal information with your therapist. So, you will want an individual you
have confidence in and can connect with. It's acceptable to interview a therapist, either in a phone conversation or in
a first session, so that you can obtain the necessary information to make a well-informed decision.
How Will I Know If This Person Is The Right Therapist For Me? After getting all the information and talking with several
professionals, you will need to make a decision. At this point the best advice is to trust your feelings. It is important
that you work with a therapist who is qualified to help you in your particular area of need and that it be an individual with
whom you feel safe, can talk with easily, and a person you feel you can trust. Remember that counseling and hypnotherapy,
in the hands of a skilled clinician, are powerful and life-changing experiences, and they have been shown to be effective
for a variety of conditions and problems. If you need a change in your life and work as an active participant in your own
treatment, you can expect the results will be well worth the time and money you invest.
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