How do I find the right counselor for me?
Counseling can be such an important part in your pain to purpose journey. Sharing your story with someone who can listen well, working through your hurts, and learning strategies to help you cope with the emotions and losses you’ve endured are all part of the process God uses to bring healing to our deepest wounds. But taking that first step in finding a therapist can be overwhelming as you search the profiles of a plethora of potential candidates. In fact, for many people the intimidation of that first step can keep them from moving ahead and getting the help and care they need in their ache.
Studies show that the factor that determines the effectiveness of counseling the most is the therapeutic relationship. This means, how well you connect with your therapist can truly dictate how successful your time in therapy is. So taking a minute to find someone who is a good fit is critical to ensuring you don’t waste your time or energy.
As you begin to look for a therapist, consider checking out counseling networks such as American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC), Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC), Christian Counselors Network (Focus on the Family), and Faithful Counseling. These networks all have resources available to help find someone in your area to walk with you in your pain.
Another way to find the right counselor is start asking people you trust in your church or community. Hearing the experiences of others may help you decide who might work well for your specific needs and will help guide you towards the right counselor.
As you start to find some potential candidates, be sure you are comfortable with their approach and methods. Do a little research about their therapeutic approach and ask a few good questions in a consultation or first appointment about what you can expect in counseling and their experience with the issues you are struggling with.
Just remember, counseling is a relationship and you may not connect with every therapist you meet. That is okay! Many people have to try a few counselors before they find someone who they feel is the right one for them so don’t hesitate to keep trying! While it can be exhausting to share your story repeatedly as you are searching for a new counselor, making sure you feel safe and connected will help make the most of your time in counseling.
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