How do I find a good therapist?

One of the hardest parts about needing help can be figuring out where and how to get help. By the time you’re looking for a therapist you’ve probably already tried on your own, to no great success, to manage what you’re going through. You might have even turned to friends and family for help, but worry about burdening them or don’t trust them to own their bias or judgement.

Unless you’re had a lot of experience with therapy, have done a lot of research, or are already in the field, it can be difficult to understand what’s important when looking for therapy. And you probably want to get going addressing what’s going on in your life. What you might know is that you need to find someone who you can trust to be reasonably good and reasonably safe to open up to.

It is a great fortune to be referred to someone by a friend, family member, or a doctor because we can extend a network of trust in relationships. Being able to trust someone is a process that is essential to therapy, and relationships, going well.

If we’ve had any kind of hurt or disappointment in past relationships, especially ones we had to depend upon, it can be hard to open ourselves up once more.

At the heart of therapy is seeking help. For anyone who has been hurt by anyone else, this is a courageous act.