Who do you work with?

[Dyess]

How do you know which therapy person is the best for you? Not just on a personal level, but to address the issues you are dealing with.  A counselor? A psychiatrist? A psychologist? A fortune cookie? Magic Eight Ball, Ouija Boards?
Is there a difference in counseling and therapy, and does a counselor do both?

[wingnut]

Honestly there are so many labels...my T was trained in social work but is in private practice and has an arms length of specialized training. This is my .02 based on many different Ts. Take your time and be picky before you commit and note that  some in private practice offer a free first session.

One of my best counselors was 30 years ago at a county drug and alcoholism treatment center. She was a social worker and fellow child of alcoholics and helped my self esteem immensely. After that I went thru decades of counselors who worked for low pay and heavy case loads. I felt like just another manila folder and they were far from experts at trauma. While my current T costs thru the nose, she has a small case load and works hard with me so worth it.

I think (not sure) counselors are social worker employed by city/state. Therapists can be SWs or psychologists while psychiatrists administer meds.
I would suggest private practice with a trauma expert if you can but obviously there are good community counselors
out there. Interview at least three by phone and see how you click. It's tough as there are so many to choose from.

[littlepalm]

  wingnut & Trace-

I am also seeking a T. I had to discontinue w/ my T due an insurance change. I have been to many T's w/ different labels. One of my most helpful was one whom specialized in child psychology.

Wingnut, what questions do you suggest asking the new potential T? A few days I phoned one and left a message w/ my info and MDD/GAD dx...I added I feel as f I have CPTSD/childhood trauma...I do not know if you "buy into this diagnosis". I have not heard back from her.

My goal came from a positive affirmation list-

"I deserve all that is good. I release any need for misery and suffering". Easier said than done. I wish this for all of us.

[wingnut]

http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2012/08/14/key-questions-to-ask-when-choosing-a-therapist/
hi littlepalm
i found this which may help for a startering point
some here also stress c-ptsd vs ptsd expertise.
Best to you in the search.

[wingnut]

This reminded me of a phone interview I did w a woman w a PHD.
I was telling her my spiel and her responses were:
Really?
Wow.
Huh.
Gosh you really have a lot going on there.

I hung up as fast as I could.   

[Dyess]

LOL Wingnut can't blame you.  Maybe I have the wrong idea of what counseling/therapy is. I thought that you went to counseling/therapy if you were mentally perplexed and possibly stuck and they could help. That if you were unable to give a causative reason for this, they had tools, and the education, the know how, to help figure that out and come up with a plan to work on it. But from what I was getting from my T is that if you don't know what we need to talk about or what's bothering you......"you are not ready for therapy".

[wingnut]

I'm sorry you received this message and more happy that you aren't accepting it. Keep looking!

[Rrecovery]

Great link for questions to ask a T and yourself about your experience with the therapist.  In the US a counselor is a newer credential.  You need a minimum of a masters degree.  They have less training than psychologists wrt "more severe" issues, e.r. personality disorders, bipolar, schizophrenic.  However, they have just as much training in doing therapy as a social worker.  Both social workers and counselors can go on to receive training for and treat any condition; there are no legal or ethical restrictions.  Here are some of my favorite questions for potential Ts:

Do you treat _______ ? (whatever the issue is including trauma, ptsd, Cptsd, eating disorders, etc.)
What is your approach to treating this issue?
Do you offer a complimentary first session or phone session?
What is your theoretical approach as a therapist?

They certainly shouldn't balk at any of these questions if they are a good therapist.  As you interact, pay attention to how you feel - safe/unsafe?  heard/unheard? respected/disrespected?

Trust your gut. There is a difference between feeling apprehensive about beginning therapy in general, and getting a bad feeling about a potential therapist.

My current therapist is an MSW and she's just awesome.  One of the reasons I chose her is that she specializes in eating disorders.  I don't have an eating disorder (I used to) but I know they are really complicated to treat and a specialist needs to be well-trained and compassionate and patient.

May we all find the very best therapists.

[Dyess]

Good questions, thanks.