The practice of psychotherapy has grown by leaps and bounds in the last few decades, and there are many good reasons for this. More individuals are seeing the benefits of psychotherapy and counseling for themselves and their loved ones, and even if your problems seem small or insignificant, you could very well benefit from psychotherapy as well. Many people now understand that psychotherapy is not just for those who have deep issues – we all feel emotionally tired and stressed once in a while, and talking to someone always helps, especially if that person is a professional who can listen to you and guide you on your path. But when choosing a psychologist or counselor, there are some factors you may need to think about as well. So, what are these factors? Let’s find out.
Your finances
Of course, finances play a role when it comes to selecting your psychologist or counselor. The good news, though, is that plenty of insurance providers can give you coverage in regard to services related to mental health. If you have health insurance coming from your employer, you can contact your insurance provider to check if they cover such services, and if they do, how you can take advantage of this benefit. Make sure to find out the exact details of the coverage and if there are any limitations and what those limitations are.
If you don’t have coverage, you can choose to pay from your own pocket. Some professional psychologists and clinics can also operate based on a policy where the fee depends on how much income you make.
What to look for
Credentials play a big role, and this is certainly a significant factor in the effectiveness of your sessions and overall counseling, as confirmed by the experts in counseling McHenry offers from the Lodestone Center for Behavioral Health. Psychologists have an undergraduate degree and spend around seven years under a graduate training program prior to receiving their doctorate. Part of their training includes spending time in an internship program, either in a hospital or other official institution. They also go through about a year of supervised training and experience prior to being able to practice on their own. With this combination of training and internship, psychologists are a step above other mental health care professionals. Also, a psychologist should have a license in the jurisdiction or state where they are practicing. With a license, the public is protected, and the psychologist regularly renews the license based on their continued education and competence.
How to know if counseling is effective
Once you start with your counseling and therapy, make it a point to establish your goals and objectives with your psychologist. But keep in mind that there are goals which may take a longer time to achieve depending on the complexity of your concerns. You should be able to work with your psychologist on setting a time frame or significant milestone according to your needs.
But once you start seeing your psychologist, before long, you should begin feeling a clear sense of comfort and relief as well as a sense of hopefulness. The thing is, many of us experience a wide range of feelings and emotions once we start with therapy. But when you start feeling hopeful or relieved, this is always a good sign – it indicates that you are beginning to understand and deal with your behavior, thoughts, and emotions in a more positive light.
Authored by: Clinical Staff Contributor
