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0 By Jennifer Catherine
Therapy is an important part of recovery when you have a mental illness. Therapists are normal people who are there do do their job and help people get better. Starting therapy can be quite scary for some people and finding someone who you trust enough to be 100% open with can be hard. In this post I will talk about the different types of therapists and what their job includes and I will also tell you some ways to tell if you have found the right person for you. I am not a professional and everything I say is just what I have learned from personal and peer experiences.
‘Do I need therapy?’
If you find yourself asking this question then the answer is probably “yes”. Therapy is a great tool when it comes to understanding and bettering your mental health and wellbeing. Everyone has both a physical and mental health, but not everyone has issues in these areas. If you simply want someone to vent to or even think you need a specialist in a certain area, therapy is always an option.
Psychologist
The main purpose of psychology is to understand, explain, predict and influence the behaviour or emotions of an individual. The can help with getting a diagnosis and support through hardships or daily situations as well as more complex and individual issues.
Psychiatrist
Has the ability to prescribe medication for mental illnesses and provide diagnosis. Also understands physical health and can work alongside a GP (general practitioner/ doctor).
Counsellor
Assists in smaller, less complex issues and has less qualifications than other therapists but can be really effective for those dealing with anxiety, depression or general life issues.
Specialists
Depending on your mental illness or hardship there are a wide variety of specialised therapists who focus on a certain topic and provide support with that set issue. Specialist can be for, addiction, substance use, trauma based disorders, major depressive or anxiety disorders, dissociative disorders, disordered eating, personality disorders, life coaches, relationship counselling, family therapy, bipolar and literally anything else you can imagine! They will have varying levels of qualifications depending on what they are treating.
Art therapists
This includes all forms of visual and expressive arts like music, painting, dance, drama, sculpting, drawing and everything in between. The aim of this therapy is to provide clients with a creative outlet to express their emotions and thoughts.
Distant therapists
This refers to being away from your therapist and not being face to face with someone. You simply call, email, text, web chat, video call or send letters and get the help you need without being present with a total stranger.
Social workers
Assist in helping with mental health, wellbeing and relationships. They are very similar to counsellors but typically have more experience.
So now that the common types of therapists are covered and you hopefully understand them a little better, how do you know if your therapist is right for you? First of all figure out what category out of the above that they fit into or if they are different entirely. You need to answer the following on a scale of 1-5 to find out if they are actually a good fit and if you don’t already have a therapist keep a look out for what qualities you want to see in a therapist when you start seeing one.
1=lowest/worst/never
5=highest/best/most often
Do you feel safe when you are with them?
Have you cried in front of them/ do you feel safe to?
You can be open with them all the time?
You tell them what you are thinking and feeling without fear?
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They seem to care about you and want to help?
The environment is free of triggers?
You can be yourself around them?
You share the good things as well as the bad?
They seem to understand what you are trying to say/explain?
You feel that they believe you?
They give you advice and support that is helpful?
They understand and respect your comfort zone?
D you actually like going as you find it helpful?
You feel that when in therapy it is a judgment free place?
You can share things that you haven’t told anyone else?
They would never pressure you into anything?
25 or less: You need to find a new therapist ASAP as a bad fit can be more damaging than helpful!
26-39: Not great but it could be worse. Try to talk to your therapist about how you can make the sessions more beneficial.
40-59: Good relationship with the therapist but could be more open and honest. Try to make yourself more comfortable during sessions and discuss ways forward with your therapist if you feel it being an issue.
60-75: This is the best level to be at as you have a great level of honesty and feel safe during sessions without being overly happy about your sessions as this can be an issue.
76-80: This is great for honesty and safety reasons but be very careful not to become co-dependent on your therapist!
Remember that this is just one person on the internet’s opinion and I am by no means a professional!
If anything I said has been difficult for you please reach out to someone that you trust. I hope that you guys found this helpful and it helped you understand the common types of therapist along with tips on how to know if they are right for your needs. This topic was voted on by my lovely Instagram followers and if you want to see what goes on over there you can follow me @diaryofapsycho1 and I would love to here form you 🙂
I hope that you are all having a beautiful day and thank you for all the support.
Jen xx
Reproduced with permission, originally posted here: diaryofapsychoblog.wixsite.com
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