From LOSING IT! With Jillian Michaels
Friday, August 05, 2011
How to Choose a Therapist
In addition to all the external work you're doing on my program, therapy can be a productive means to help you take charge of the internal stuff you've got going on. If you're suffering from depression, anxiety, stress, an eating disorder, an addiction, or the repercussions from abuse or trauma, a good therapist can help you work through the difficulty and get your life back on track.
If you're not sure how to pinpoint your area of need, set up an appointment with your primary care physician to explore what's troubling you — he or she can make some suggestions and referrals. Getting a recommendation from someone you trust — especially a medical professional — will take much of the guesswork out of the search and help you feel more comfortable about taking the first step.
Seek out the right kind of therapist. For example, if you're struggling with an eating disorder, do your research and find a therapist who specializes in eating disorders. Such a therapist will be the most effective at helping you address your problems and the way they are negatively affecting your life.
Check the credentials of your prospective therapist. Make sure you're considering a therapist who has completed academic training for his or her degree(s). The therapist may also have fulfilled additional requirements (which vary from state to state) in order to become licensed.
Interview your new therapist. Set up an informational session in which you ask your new therapist some questions about his or her experience:
- How long has he or she been in practice?
- What is his or her area of expertise?
- What methods does he or she use to treat patients?
- What is the typical length of treatment?
- Does he or she accept your type of insurance?
Make sure you really connect. It's important to find a therapist who makes you feel comfortable. Therapy is challenging — it may sometimes be as painful as doing some of my workouts. Of course, it'll be worth it in the end (like the workouts!), but you need to find someone you can trust with your emotions and your neuroses (come on, we all have them). Then you can do the hard work you need to do and move on to bigger and better things.