To help find the best type of therapy for you, Dr. Potter suggests starting out with what problems or issues you’d like to discuss.
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Ask yourself:
- What do I want to change?
- What is getting in the way of me making that change?
- How much structure do I want in my sessions?
“For example, if you know you have a compulsive behavior like gambling or overeating, then you might want to seek out a behavioral therapist,†she says.
It’s also important to note that many mental health professionals use an integrative approach, meaning they are trained in a variety of therapies and will often use multiple approaches in their patient’s treatment.
Ask any potential therapists the following questions to help make the best decision:
- Are you licensed?
- Do you have experience treating people with similar problems?
- How do you think that I can get better?
- What kind of approaches do you use for problems like this?
“If you have a sense that something is wrong and you don’t know how to fix it, then therapy is a good option,†says Dr. Potter.