How to Choose a Counselor
A good fit between you and your counselor is crucial to your having a meaningful
and successful experience. There’s no one set of criteria that describes great
practitioners. The best choice will reflect your specific circumstances, personality,
and preferences. As you search, keep the following elements in mind; they’ll help
you find someone well suited to help you.
Location, Location: Proximity is important perhaps more so than you think. If
your counselor is too far away, you may find yourself not as committed to the
process. However, location should not become an obstacle. If there are no
counselors in your town, try those in a town nearby.
Comfort Level: As you search for a counselor ask yourself whether you would
comfortable with that individual. What are your preferences? Would you feel
better with a male or a female therapist? Would you prefer one who speaks a
language other than English?
The Right Stuff: Find a counselor who has treated people with problems similar
to those you face. Often a counselor focuses on specific issues such as eating
disorders, sexual dysfunction, or mood disorders. Find a counselor who
specializes in your area of need. Find out what treatment the counselor employs as
well as her typical results. Sometimes a counselor works closely with particular
populations, such as adolescents, gay couples, or people of particular religious
backgrounds.
Counseling Basics: Counselors are trained and licensed in different approaches.
To decipher a provider's credentials and differentiate psychologists and
psychiatrists from family therapists and social workers, click here.
The Methods: Counselors have different methods and orientations. All can be
effective, but you may find one or another particularly appealing. If you want to
learn more about therapy methods, click here.
Trial Period: Contact two or three counselors who seem to be a good fit and
schedule initial appointments. You will most likely get voicemail, as counselors are
often in session during the day. Don't hang up; leave your name and number.
On Your First Visit: Ask yourself, "Do we click? Do I feel a connection? Do I
respect this person?" For you to reveal yourself, you will need to feel safe and at
ease. If it doesn't feel right, move on to the next one.
Sharing Values: Something to consider during your initial visit is whether the
counselor shares your values and beliefs. You are building a relationship, so
starting at the core is important. If struggling with a partner in a relationship has
brought you to counseling, for example, you certainly want to know how the
counselor feels about cohabitation before marriage.
Too Eager? A counselor shouldn't be too eager to please. Though you want a
connection with a counselor, you don’t want someone who never challenges you.
If you suffer from self-esteem problems, for example, you won’t be helped if the
counselor does nothing more than flatter you. Improving your mental health is
hard work on your part, and you’ll want a counselor who facilitates your efforts.
In The Pocket: When you do settle on a counselor, you’ll need to agree on a fee.
You may want to inquire about whether the counselor offers a sliding-scale
arrangement or flexible fee schedule adjusted to your needs or income.
In- and Out-of-Network: You’ll also want to see if your insurance will cover
your counseling. Make a list of questions, including how many visits the insurer
will pay for, whether the carrier covers only a percentage of the costs, the
difference between providers who are in-network and out-of-network, and
whether primary care physician approval is required for you to be covered.
Co-pay: After the carrier has answered all your queries, ask your counselor about
coverage, too. Bring up matters such as co-payment, how other patients handle
insurance and payment, and whether your diagnosis will go on your record. Arm
yourself with information and the counselor can help address all of your monetary
concerns.
A good fit between you and your counselor is crucial to your having a meaningful
and successful experience. There’s no one set of criteria that describes great
practitioners. The best choice will reflect your specific circumstances, personality,
and preferences. As you search, keep the following elements in mind; they’ll help
you find someone well suited to help you.
Location, Location: Proximity is important perhaps more so than you think. If
your counselor is too far away, you may find yourself not as committed to the
process. However, location should not become an obstacle. If there are no
counselors in your town, try those in a town nearby.
Comfort Level: As you search for a counselor ask yourself whether you would
comfortable with that individual. What are your preferences? Would you feel
better with a male or a female therapist? Would you prefer one who speaks a
language other than English?
The Right Stuff: Find a counselor who has treated people with problems similar
to those you face. Often a counselor focuses on specific issues such as eating
disorders, sexual dysfunction, or mood disorders. Find a counselor who
specializes in your area of need. Find out what treatment the counselor employs as
well as her typical results. Sometimes a counselor works closely with particular
populations, such as adolescents, gay couples, or people of particular religious
backgrounds.
Counseling Basics: Counselors are trained and licensed in different approaches.
To decipher a provider's credentials and differentiate psychologists and
psychiatrists from family therapists and social workers, click here.
The Methods: Counselors have different methods and orientations. All can be
effective, but you may find one or another particularly appealing. If you want to
learn more about therapy methods, click here.
Trial Period: Contact two or three counselors who seem to be a good fit and
schedule initial appointments. You will most likely get voicemail, as counselors are
often in session during the day. Don't hang up; leave your name and number.
On Your First Visit: Ask yourself, "Do we click? Do I feel a connection? Do I
respect this person?" For you to reveal yourself, you will need to feel safe and at
ease. If it doesn't feel right, move on to the next one.
Sharing Values: Something to consider during your initial visit is whether the
counselor shares your values and beliefs. You are building a relationship, so
starting at the core is important. If struggling with a partner in a relationship has
brought you to counseling, for example, you certainly want to know how the
counselor feels about cohabitation before marriage.
Too Eager? A counselor shouldn't be too eager to please. Though you want a
connection with a counselor, you don’t want someone who never challenges you.
If you suffer from self-esteem problems, for example, you won’t be helped if the
counselor does nothing more than flatter you. Improving your mental health is
hard work on your part, and you’ll want a counselor who facilitates your efforts.
In The Pocket: When you do settle on a counselor, you’ll need to agree on a fee.
You may want to inquire about whether the counselor offers a sliding-scale
arrangement or flexible fee schedule adjusted to your needs or income.
In- and Out-of-Network: You’ll also want to see if your insurance will cover
your counseling. Make a list of questions, including how many visits the insurer
will pay for, whether the carrier covers only a percentage of the costs, the
difference between providers who are in-network and out-of-network, and
whether primary care physician approval is required for you to be covered.
Co-pay: After the carrier has answered all your queries, ask your counselor about
coverage, too. Bring up matters such as co-payment, how other patients handle
insurance and payment, and whether your diagnosis will go on your record. Arm
yourself with information and the counselor can help address all of your monetary
concerns.
| Sometimes all we need is a listening ear, a helping hand and a caring heart to find balance in our lives. |
| Terry McVannel Erwin, Ph.D. Dr. Erwin is a General Practitioner With a Special Interest in Working with Women Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse Certified Hypnotherapist Qualified Supervisor, Florida National Certified Counselor #78891 Licensed Mental Health Counselor #MH8591 |
| HOME DR. ERWIN'S SPECIALTIES IS COUNSELING RIGHT FOR YOU? PERSONAL STATEMENT ABOUT COUNSELING ABOUT HYPNOTHERAPY COST OF SERVICES CONTACT DR. ERWIN PLEDGE TO LGBT CLIENTS AFFIRMATIONS AND MORE PAPERWORK FOR NEW CLIENTS DIRECTIONS TO OUR OFFICE 2506 Del Prado Boulevard South Cape Coral, FL 33904-4750 Ph. (239) 242-0545 TErwin1@yahoo.com MOST INSURANCES ACCEPTED Don't have insurance? We offer limited-session sliding scale fees that are comparable to insurance co-pays! Call today for more information! |
