Finding a Trauma Therapist

Kizzie · March 13, 2018, 12:40:27 AM

According to Dr. Christine Courtois (2014), while there many counseling professionals available, what is most important in selecting a therapist is whether or not they have "specialized training in and knowledge of trauma driven disorders and treatment" (p. 97). It is worthwhile noting that as many of us on this board have reported, therapists may be knowledgeable about PTSD, but not about Complex PTSD. Thus, it is important to check given Complex PTSD has three additional symptoms to those experienced in PTSD and this means treatment differs to some extent.

The following links may help in your search for a trauma informed therapist

Here are a number of additional articles/web sites that may be of help:

"50 Signs of Good Therapy"
"50 Warning Signs of Questionable Therapy and Counseling"
"Is There Something Wrong or Questionable in Your Treatment?" by Dr. Estelle Disch. This article is one of many resources at a site called the Therapy Exploitation Link Line (TELL) for those who have been harmed in a therapeutic relationship (primarily in the United States and Australia).
Why a Bottom-Up Approach to Trauma Therapy is So Powerful

See also the next post in this thread for a list of searchable databases.

Reference: Courtois, C. (2014). It's not you, it's what happened to you: Complex trauma and treatment. United States; Telemachus Press.

Kizzie · March 13, 2018, 12:42:22 AM

A common problem for many of us seems to be locating a therapist who is trained in and experienced with treating trauma. The searchable databases below are free of charge and can help you find a trauma therapist who provides treatment in their office and/or by distance (Skype, telephone, live chat).

There is an OOTS form "Locating a Trauma Therapist" that you may find useful in your search. You may want to have a look at this excellent resource "How to Choose a Therapist" by the Sidran Institute which also has an explanation of the different types of therapists (scroll down to "Alphabet Soup").

International

Good Therapy - http://www.goodtherapy.org/find-therapist.html
The CPTSD Foundation - https://cptsdfoundation.org/help-me-find-a-therapist/
The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD) - https://isstd.connectedcommunity.org/network/network-find-a-professional
The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) - http://www.istss.org/source/cliniciandirectory/
The CPTSD Foundation - https://cptsdfoundation.org/help-me-find-a-therapist/. This is not a searchable database; rather there is a team who will do their best to help you locate a therapist.

United States and Canada

Psychology Today - http://therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/prof_search.php
Theravive - http://www.theravive.com/

Country Specific

American Psychological Association - http://locator.apa.org/
British Association for Counseling and Psychotherapy - http://www.itsgoodtotalk.org.uk/therapists/
Canadian Provincial and Territorial Psychological Associations - http://www.cpa.ca/public/whatisapsychologist/PTassociations/

Note: If there is a database for the country you live in that's not listed here, please feel free to post it and I'll add it to the main list.

Kizzie · November 06, 2018, 07:46:11 PM

A great article on the OOTS Twitter feed this morning about relational therapy:

Connection and Co-Regulation in Psychotherapy

This reinforces Pete Walker's earlier article about relational therapy and its importance in and benefits for Complex PTSD.

SadOldMan · March 11, 2019, 05:57:58 PM

Might want to add www.psychologytoday.com to resources for finding a therapist.

Kizzie · March 11, 2019, 06:03:44 PM

It's under Can & the US already, but tks for the suggestion.

Kizzie · October 14, 2019, 03:27:38 PM

Saying Goodbye to My Therapist" by Clare Allan (2009). Stumbled across this today and really enjoyed reading about a solid and authentic therapeutic relationship.

Kizzie · January 27, 2020, 07:16:28 PM

Selling Bad Therapy to Trauma Victims: Patients and therapists should ignore new guidelines for treating trauma, by Jonathan Shedler Ph.D, 2017.

Shedler takes aim at the APA and US health insurers about new psychotherapy treatment guidelines issued in 2017:

Health insurance companies discriminate against psychotherapy. Congress has passed laws mandating mental health "parity" (equal coverage for medical and mental health conditions) but health insurers circumvent them. This has led to class action lawsuits against health insurance companies, but discrimination persists.

One way health insurers circumvent parity laws is by shunting patients to the briefest and cheapest therapies. Another way is by paying only for therapy that is so impersonal and dehumanizing that patients stop going. Health insurers do not say the treatment decisions are driven by financial self-interest. They say the treatments are scientifically proven—and point to treatment guidelines like those just issued by the APA.

It's bad enough most Americans don't have adequate mental health coverage without also being gaslighted and told that inadequate therapy is the "best" therapy.

Explains why CBT is so often recommended/approved (pushed) and not just in the states, smaller countries often follow the lead of the US.

SadOldMan · October 11, 2020, 06:40:55 PM

Another link for Canada is:

https://emdrcanada.org/find-a-therapist/

Map don't work, use sidebar

...'nuff said

Kizzie · November 17, 2020, 02:50:00 PM

Tks to member Juliaguarde for suggesting the following two articles from The CPTSD Foundation re finding a therapist who is knowledgeable/ experienced in treating CPTSD:

Finding Help for Those Living with CPTSD and Those Who Love Them, by Shirley Davis, Aug 10, 2020

The Difficulty of Finding a Therapist for Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, by Shirley Davis, Aug 3, 2020

Kizzie · May 01, 2021, 05:56:33 PM

I noticed this morning that the CPTSD Foundation will help survivors locate a therapist who treats CPTSD - https://cptsdfoundation.org/help-me-find-a-therapist/.