New Year, Same Issues? Tips To Finally Find The Right Therapist
Somatic Therapy San Francisco
At the start of a new year, it is natural to want to re-invent yourself or achieve something different than last year. Many people seek therapy at the beginning of the year for this reason. They decide that what they were doing or continue to do has not been working and that life would be better if they actually FELT better. As a somatic therapist working in San Francisco, I definitely believe that by working through trauma, anxiety, and stress that we keep in our bodies throughout our lives, we can feel better not only emotionally but physically as well!
If you are on the road to healing and choose to start with therapy, first off, congratulations! Therapy is one of the best investments you can make in yourself. The work that you do to improve your well-being can change the trajectory of your life. . . everything from how you feel, your confidence, and how you act in relationships are all possible to be shifted in therapy. And that is just the beginning of where therapy can take you. No matter the type of therapy, with a skilled therapist you can deepen the relationship and insight you have about yourself. Secondly, the process of starting therapy can intimidating and that is worth acknowledging. Calling up a therapist, who you don’t know, telling them personal things about you sight unseen, and then somehow hoping that this is the right person to help you make a life change—that’s a lot. Add to that trying to pick a type of therapy and possibly finding a therapist in your insurance network may make things feel overwhelming.. Fortunately, as an experienced therapist, there are a few tips I can offer that might make the process smoother.
Tips To Find The Right Therapist (from Somatic Therapy San Francisco)
1) Identify what your goals are for therapy. It is important to know what you are going to therapy for even, if it is. . .”I want to feel better.” It does not matter if your goal is vague: communicating what your goal or goals are helps the therapist know if they are the right fit for you and vice versa.
2) Identify a budget for therapy. Many insurances cover therapy but waitlists can be long. Here in San Francisco, fewer therapists accept insurance so it may be a good idea to think about what you are willing to spend out-of-pocket. Pick a number that feels reasonable for you to spend monthly, knowing that if you need more specialized treatment or someone with a breadth of experience, the costs may be higher.
3) Research several therapists and contact them for an initial consultation. Any good therapist will offer a complementary initial consultation which should last between 15-20 minutes. Take them up on that so you can hear the sound of the therapist’s voice, the type of questions they ask, etc. Don’t worry about feeling nervous. Therapists know how challenging that first phone call can be and will do their best to put you at ease.
4) Make sure to ask the therapists questions. Feel free to ask about the therapist’s background, their education, and definitely ask whether they have experience treating the type of problems you are having and what the therapeutic process looks like with them. Be as curious as you want. I personally love when potential clients ask questions. It lets me know they are invested in the process and ready to make change in their lives.
5) Take some time to reflect on which potential therapist you connected with and why. Remember, eventually (not on day one!) you may be sharing a lot of personal information with this person. Choose someone you feel comfortable speaking to and that you feel listens thoroughly and tries to understand your life and your feelings. Once you have reflected it is time to
6) Schedule that first appointment! Remember that this is a HUGE step you are taking toward your well-being and you are taking charge of your life. Feel proud of yourself for scheduling and going to that first session. Also, small sidenote: it can feel weird to talk to someone you don’t know for the first time. . .give the relationship a chance to develop.
Thank you for reading and I hope you are encouraged to try therapy if you have been contemplating it. If you have trouble finding a therapist or have questions about the process, please contact me at lisa@lisamanca.com. I am happy to provide pointers and I have a wide variety of resources to offer. All the best to you in the new year!