Tips for Choosing the Right Family Therapist

Even the strongest families encounter a need for assistance beyond their own resources at times.

However, acknowledging the need for help and getting connected to a family therapist who is a good fit can take time and patience. Often, by the time such a search for a family therapist begins - time and patience can be running thin.

If you are considering family therapy, it may be helpful to start with the following tips:

Research or ask for the provider’s degree and credentials

Many states offer various types of education, training and licenses to become a mental health provider. While any type of mental health provider can seek specialized training and supervision in family therapy, not all therapists have training and experience in family therapy.

Try not to assume that just because one is a behavioral health provider that they have experience helping families, teens, couples or children. Ask the provider about their experience working with families.

Or, spend some time reading their website or profile from a directory to verify that they can offer what you are looking for.

Consider asking your pediatrician or primary care doctor

Sometimes the search for a family therapist can be a private journey.

This can make it harder to connect with a therapist than let’s say a dentist! Don’t be afraid to ask your pediatrician or family physician. Many medical providers have trustworthy referral sources for mental health providers.

And, if for some reason they do not and you connect to one you like, they may appreciate you sharing that resource with them so they can pass it along to another family looking for help in the future.

Check with your insurance

Do you want to utilize insurance benefits? While this is common, it is not everyone’s preference. On the one hand, insurance can be helpful in connecting individuals to providers.

On the other hand, sometimes insurance can also feel limiting. Not all family therapy is covered by insurance depending on medical necessity, and insurance deductibles may also be quite expensive.

Many therapists can help in verifying insurance benefits for you. However, contacting your insurance carrier and asking about your coverage can ultimately help you know what to expect from a financial perspective and possibly prevent some additional stress.

Pay attention to how you feel during your consultation

After confirming that the therapist offers family therapy, you will likely make a call or send an email to schedule your consultation. If you speak to your potential therapist by phone, even if for only a few moments, this brief encounter can tell you a lot. Pay attention!

If you booked your appointment online and go in-person for your consultation, you will likely leave your meeting with helpful information about whether this therapist is a good fit for you or your family.

Ask yourself the following:

• Were they a good listener?

• Did they interrupt you frequently?

• Did you do most of the talking or hear about the therapist's personal life as well?

While therapy itself can feel awkward or uncomfortable at times, it is important to pay attention to your intuition.

Take your time

The first step in seeking therapy may be both the hardest and the most rewarding.

If you are looking to begin family therapy it is probably safe to say that you want some type of help.

Often times the problems that families encounter before they initiate therapy have been going on for quite some time. As a result, you owe it to yourself and your family to not rush into finding the right family therapist.

It is okay to meet with more than one until you find the best connection for your family.

If you want to find out more about getting the support your family needs you can give us a call today.

Click the button down below to get in touch. We would love to help you!