Now that we have talked about how to go about finding a good therapist in the previous post, let’s talk about some things you should be looking for. Now, this is going to differ based on a lot of factors, but I think most often, it will differ based on your history of how you have chosen therapists before, or how the community you are most active in goes about doing the process. So the criteria varies depending on who you are talking to.
But here are some things that I think are important.
- Education: Have they gone to school (undergraduate/graduate) to receive training for this profession? Or have they been through some sort of recognizable and approved training program?
- Credentials: Besides education, what other credentials do they carry that enhance their work in this profession?
- License: Are they licensed by the state they practice in? This could vary, as some great therapists don’t carry a state license, but are sometimes certified by an organization (the AAPC is an example), and then they are usually monitored by some governing body such as a church or non-profit organization. When looking online, look for a therapist’s license number which is supposed to be displayed in most cases. You will see things like LMFT, LMFT-A, LSW, LPC, etc., usually with some numbers following it.
- Accountability: This goes a little back to the previous item. If they are not licensed through the state, or are not recommended or vouched for by a governing body, then be careful. I have heard horror stories of people who have gone to therapy with someone who was not practicing under proper guidelines.
