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Mindtech AssociatesChoosing a Therapist |
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Mindtech AssociatesChoosing a Therapist |
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Before you choose a therapist, please read all of this page. Decide if you would prefer to see a male or a female therapist. Read the therapist's page, where you will find information about the therapies they offer, and the sort of conditions they offer help for. Look at what their qualifications are, the name of the professional bodies they are members of, and what fees they charge. Contacting the TherapistWhen you first contact your chosen therapist by telephone, you may find that they use an answer machine. This is so that they will not be disturbed whilst working with clients, so please be patient. Speak slowly and clearly, leaving your name and a contact number, plus a time when it will be convenient to contact you. When you talk to the therapist on the telephone, please accept that for a number of reasons they will not be able to make a proper assessment of your problem, nor the number of sessions that you may need, or the total costs involved. A detailed assessment can only be made at a personal meeting. Check to see if the therapist offers a free initial consultation. If you are nervous about your first meeting with the therapist, ask if you can be accompanied by a friend or relation. Meeting the TherapistWhilst Mindtech Associates have taken reasonable steps to ensure individual therapist's credentials are up to date, we recommend that when you first meet the therapist there are things that you need to reassure yourself about. QualificationsDoes the therapist present themselves professionally, both on the telephone and in person? FeesNow is also the time for you to ask about fees. Make sure that you know and understand how much each session will cost. Can the therapist give you an estimate of the number of sessions you may need, and how much the total is likely to be? How long is each session and at what frequency will the sessions be? If you are unemployed, a student or a senior citizen, does the therapist offer a sliding scale of charges? What, if any, is the charge for missed appointments? Are there any other charges? You must be sure that you know exactly what you will be paying for. ConfidentialityWhilst it is good to have references or testimonials from a therapists past clients, you should not in reality expect the therapist to be able to show you them. The therapist has a duty of care and confidentiality to all clients past and present. Stop and think, would you be happy for your name and address to be given out to anyone who asks for it? You can expect this code of confidentiality from the therapist because, at your first meeting, and at any subsequent sessions you may be asked very personal questions about your life; questions about your psychiatric history; have you had any major illness or trauma in your life; questions about your sexual history. You should be honest with the therapist about things that are happening or have happened in your life. Without all the relevant facts, the therapist may not be able to help you to the best of their ability. Therapy is a two way thing, you must feel comfortable and safe in the presence of the therapist. You must also feel that you can trust the person you are with. If you don't feel comfortable, or that you can trust them, or you are not happy with the information you have been given, then you should always go home and think about it. If, after you have thought it over, you still don't feel comfortable, then you must not commit yourself to treatment with that particular therapist. TherapyIf you have decided to undergo therapy then you will find that the professional therapist has no wish to control their clients, in fact, they will work towards putting you in control. Before you start the therapy, discuss what it is you expect from it. Never be afraid to ask questions at the start, or to say how you feel. It is important that the client and the therapist are both very clear about what they are trying to achieve. If during a session, the therapist does or says anything that makes you feel uncomfortable, you should always say something, there and then. Please be prepared to be totally honest with your therapist. Be prepared to keep an open mind, because the way you feel during the therapy sessions may not be what you expected. Remember, this may be the first time you have experienced this, but the therapist does it every day. Please be on time for your appointments, as being late can often have a knock on effect on the therapist's other clients. If you cannot keep your appointment, please always let your therapist know as soon as possible. Not only is it good manners, but it is also the therapist's livelihood, and it may give them a chance to offer the session to someone else. This site is © Mindtech Associates 2000-2005 |