Going to therapyis an investment toward your overall well-being.
There are many possible reasons to start.
The reasons we often hear of pertain to addressing anxiety, stress, relationships, and dealing with grief.
Whatever the reason may be deciding to go to therapy on its own is a big step.
It’s an opportunity to dig deeper, study your own patterns, and accomplish personal breakthroughs.
To get the most out of therapy, creating a safe space is a must.
Ifyou’re able to find the right therapiston your first try, then that’s perfect!
But not everyone is as lucky to get it on the first go.
“I do not recommend ‘ghosting’ your therapist,” psychotherapist Alena Gerst toldByrdie.
It’s normal to dread this jot down of discussion, but your therapist should understand.
That’s simply a reality of life."
Now, if your therapist is acting unprofessionally, that’s a different story.
This jot down of unprofessional behavior can be reported.
Doing so will be mutually beneficial.
A termination or goodbye session is a great opportunity to reflect on the progress made in therapy.
Which of them did not?
Remember: This is your healing journey.
When therapists were asked their opinion on breakups, the feedback was unanimous: Don’t ghost.
“Ending therapy should be as intentional as starting therapy,” psychotherapist Charna Cassell says (viaPsychCentral).
Be brave and use this as a learning opportunity for how to handle relationship endings" (viaToday).
But I think I need someone else who matches my needs a little bit better.
Do you have any recommendations?"
The key is to keep it simple, honest, and direct.
Other people may opt to stop seeing their therapist when they’ve accomplished their goals in therapy.
Depending on your needs, treatment doesn’t necessarily need to be an ongoing thing.
The experience with your previous therapist is a good starting point.
What worked in those sessions and what didn’t?
Another thing to take into account is if your chosen therapist can understand your lived experience.
For example, the experience a person of color has with racism, tokenism, and microaggressions.
Other therapists also take insurance, so that’s worth exploring as well.
Consider the credentials and experience of the therapists you shortlist.
double-check they are board-certified, and that they have the relevant experience to address your therapy goals.
“Therapy has become a niche profession.
Fink cited a possible example of a client experiencing depression onHealth Grades.
“The psychiatrist can evaluate the patient and prescribe antidepressant medicine, if needed,” Fink wrote.
Psychologists take a psychotherapy-based approach, which typically involves psychological assessment and talk therapy.
Psychologists have doctoral degrees (Ph.D. or Psy.D.)
but are not doctors.
Another advantage of online therapy is that it’s often more cost-efficient as compared to in-person therapy.
You cut out other expenses that could be incurred when attending an in-person session such as transportation and parking.
It could also make scheduling more convenient.
Online therapy is the more convenient choice, especially in areas where mental health care is not as accessible.
Of course, online therapy isn’t perfect.
Technical issues such as an unstable connection can get in the way of an otherwise productive session.
At the end of the day, therapy is a personal experience.
Remember that it’s normal for these goals to change over time.
“Sometimes it’s very obvious what you want to achieve in therapy.
or “Was there a specific problem that brought you to therapy?
How and when did it start?”
This is beneficial whether or not your therapist is actually able to address your concerns.
Don’t worry too much about hurting their feelings, either.
They are trained for these types of situations.
“In general, therapists are very open to feedback.
We want to help you.
