There are a handful of reasons why an individual may consider therapy. Whether that is to improve communication skills, deal with anxiety, overcome grief or understand and arm yourself with the tools to deal with PTSD, therapy is the right route for people that have a problem they would like help solving.
We have all had experiences that stay with us. For some, these experiences begin to cause interruptions to our daily lives, and sometimes, can get in the way of us leading full lives.
If you have established that there are issues that have been getting in your way, and you are ready to speak to a counsellor, considering what kind of person you’d like to work with is the key to successful sessions.
The Right Counsellor for You
Choosing a counsellor can be a lot like choosing a partner. Counsellors come from many different backgrounds, religions, and walks of life. There are counsellors of all ages, genders, religious backgrounds, sexual orientations, sexual identities, and marital statuses. These are all factors that will play a role in how well your sessions go, and how easily you are able to open up.
Believe it or not, the gender, religious background and age of your counsellor can all play a role in your work with them. A woman that has experienced sexual assault by a man, may feel uncomfortable opening up to a male counsellor. For some, religion and social roles also play a role in how men and women are able to interact. If you are experiencing a life-changing situation such as transitioning or coming out, you may want to speak with a trans or openly gay counsellor. Considering your own circumstances will make it easier to select someone you can build an open relationship.
As a friend does, a counsellor should be easy to talk to and make you feel comfortable. Remember, you will likely be sharing personal information with this person, so the easier it is to build trust, the easier it will be to openly share. Having barriers like religion or gender, to begin with, will only put a wedge between you and your counsellor, and make things uncomfortable for you.
Take time to consider your values, the issues you are dealing with, and the values your counsellor should have for you to be able to untangle your issues in a comfortable environment.
Which Counselling Approach Suits You?
Once you have settled on an idea of someone that makes sense for you, consider your personality type. All counsellors approach therapy with their own style and set of tools. It is not always a one-size-fits-all solution.
Are you a person who feels that speaking about the issue without interruption will help you? Perhaps if you are, a non-directive approach such as client-centered therapy would be an appropriate approach for you.
Are you looking for a counsellor to provide you with tasks to do at home that will increase your awareness? If so, perhaps looking for a more directive approach, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, would be useful.
Would you like to regulate your emotions and reduce anxiety? Perhaps seek out someone who is qualified in working with Sensorimotor Psychotherapy or Somatic Experiencing techniques.
There are so many approaches to therapy! Ask a counsellor about their work and consider whether you think it would be useful for you.
Consider Your Budget
Counselling can be expensive, especially as a long-term commitment. Consider your monthly expenses and where counselling can fit into this. How often will you go? What does a session cost? A lot of pricing can vary between counsellors, so don’t be afraid to ask. If money is an issue, there are some methods of counselling that offer results within a shorter time period.
If you have insurance, great! If not, so many counsellors offer “sliding scale” pricing to help accommodate your needs. Don’t be afraid to ask your counsellor what they can offer in terms of pricing and how they can help accommodate you!
Consider Your Needs
Therapy is 100% about you and what you want out of it. Counsellors are trained to help you reach your personal goals. So consider what you’d like to get from counselling and it will help you achieve that goal in the long term. How do you see these sessions going in an ideal situation?
Think about what is important to you to work on and what issues you want to work through. Who do you want to be at the end of this journey? This might also dictate how often you’d like to see your counsellor, is it twice a week or once a month? Would you prefer in-person sessions or online/over the phone sessions? These are all options that different therapists will cater to, but understanding your end goal before you begin can make your road to getting there much easier.
Where Can I Look for a Therapist?
Many counsellors will specify how they work, who they are and what they focus on, on their websites. Feel free to call them if you are unable to find the information online.
Start with the problem you are looking to solve first and work backwards from there! If you want to go to couples counselling, then find a counsellor who specifies that they work with couples. If you want to work on addiction, then look for a counsellor who has this specified on their site, and so on.
Final Thoughts
The counsellor and your compatibility can make or break your experience. Taking the time to find someone who you will feel comfortable with is a useful first step!
If you are looking for anxiety therapy in Vancouver and have questions about whether or not any of our counsellors are the right fit for you, get in touch with us at Sana! We have a 15-minute free consultation for anyone interested in working with us.
