If you’ve made it here, you may be starting your therapeutic journey or questioning the therapist you have. Research over the past fifty years has shown that one factor — more than any other — is associated with successful treatment: the quality of the relationship between the therapist and the client. Finding the right therapist is a very important part of healing.
Therapy relationships make substantial contributions to the therapy outcome.
Your relationship with your therapist will help decide if you improve or stay stagnant.
A good therapist has a deep interest in your life and will relate to you that caters to your needs. There is no one-size-fits-all approach for a therapist. A therapist may be very well known in the community but that doesn’t mean they might be the right fit for you. What makes a good therapist differs for each individual based on the reasons they want to seek therapy. There should be general qualities to be mindful of when you do look for a therapist
You may be asking yourself, how do I know if I have the right therapist for me? What will help me pick the person to help me through this difficult time in my life? What qualities should I be looking for in a therapist? These qualities can help you narrow down your search:
Qualities of a therapist:
- Mutual trust, care, and honesty
- Agreements on goals
- Both participants engage in equal “work”
- The ability to correct one another with difficulties or any problems that may arise
- The freedom to share any negative beliefs
- Talking about strategies and coping skills
In addition to basic therapeutic qualities, therapists are people too which means they may have the values or personalities that may benefit you as a therapist. It’s important that you feel completely comfortable and confident with the person who is learning the most about your life, your triggers, your traumas, and how you express your emotions.
We all have different morals that guide us through life while we try to heal, learn, and grow through therapy. Trust and honesty are important values to see in your therapist. Having trust and being honest with your therapist is 100% necessary to see positive changes in the client’s life.
Trust
If you find it difficult to trust the person receiving all of this information in your life, you may want to stop, think and reevaluate if that person is the right fit for you. Trusting your therapist is essential. How can you have someone help you if you don’t trust them? If you have trust issues, therapy is the perfect place to work on yourself. Utilize your therapist as a tool; see if it’s a good fit, practice, and improve on trusting others. Once you’ve practiced, you apply what you’ve learned in sessions in your personal life. The first step is trusting the person who guides you through this process.
Honest
Have you ever lied to your therapist? Withheld things from them? Didn’t tell them the full truth? This is your sign to look elsewhere. It’s imperative to be completely honest with your therapist or it won’t work. The most important part of therapy is being comfortable telling all aspects of your life to the person you’ve chosen to listen to you. If you find that you don’t know how your therapist will receive some of the information you have, try disclosing small aspects to see if they can receive it. Therapists are required to be unbiased and non-judgmental. Try it, test the waters because if you’re not honest, it’s time to look for a new therapist.
Having honest and open communication with someone you trust completely is a very healthy strategy for resolving difficulties. It’s important to consider all of this when working with a therapist.
If you are having difficulties with your therapist, it is important to talk about that directly with your therapist. If you have questions or concerns about any part of the treatment, do not hesitate to discuss them with your therapist.
To book an appointment with Wolfe Therapy Group, contact us today!
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