There are almost 33,000 licensed counselors in the United States currently, which is a lot of folks to choose from. This doesnt even include all the other counselors like coaches who aren’t licensed but practice various forms of therapy.
If you are not sure how you are supposed to choose a family counselor that would help you best, then you need to keep reading the article below for our tips. This way your new counselor will be the ideal person to help your particular situation.
1. Read Online Reviews
The first thing you are probably going to do is go online and search through Google for the best family counselors near you. Make sure to read through the reviews that previous or current patients have left for the therapist in question.
If there are too many good reviews without any substance to them, then be wary of this person. They might have paid for these reviews.
On the other hand, don’t dismiss a family therapist with a few negative reviews, because there are always folks who have negative things to say about others, and no therapist will be able to please all their clients.
2. Consider the Therapist’s Credentials and Experience
Another aspect to consider is what kind of credentials the therapist carries, and how much experience they have in the field of family counseling. Going to counseling is a tough proposition from the get-go.
That’s why you will want to find someone who has lots of experience dealing with similar situations to yours, which they probably will if they have been in the business for a while.
3. Ask Friends and Family for References
If you are comfortable with this, then you could ask family or friends for references. There are probably folks in your circle who have been to family counseling sessions before, and who could recommend a suitable therapist to you.
4. What’s the Location of the Therapist?
The easier you can make it on yourself to go to family counseling sessions, the less likely you are to skip the sessions. That’s why make sure that you don’t have to drive halfway across your city to get to your new counselor. It could make your life very difficult especially if the weather isn’t ideal or if there’s a lot of traffic on the road.
5. What Treatment Plan Do They Recommend?
When you speak to potential therapists, inquire with them about what kind of treatment plans they recommend and what kinds of therapies they use in their sessions. There are so many kinds out there now, like music therapy, CBT, EMDR, and more. If you lean towards one kind of therapy style, then ensure your new counselor is familiar with it.
Find Your New Family Counselor and Get the Help You Deserve
Once you follow the tips mentioned above, you should be well on your way to finding your new family counselor. Going to counseling isn’t easy, since you are prodding through so many raw issues, but it’s worth it.
If you are located in California and looking for a family counselor, contact us today for a free 15-minute consultation!
Honor Your Emotions provides professional counseling & therapy in Dublin, CA and serves the East Bay Area including Pleasanton, San Ramon, Livermore and Danville.
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