How To Tell a "Good" Therapist From a Mediocre One
by Betsy Sansby
Good Therapy
- Consistently makes you feel cared about, understood, and energized about your own ability to improve the quality of your life.
- Challenges you to look at yourself honestly, and do what it takes to live in ways that are consistent with your highest values.
- Helps you see patterns of thinking and behavior that are outdated, inconsistent with your values, or destructive in your personal or professional life.
- Increases your ability to recognize, regulate, and express feelings in a healthy and balanced way.
- Is a collaborative effort between you and your therapist that is driven by your goals and needs, rather than by your therapist's agenda or biases.
- Involves work between sessions.
- Never loses sight of your mental, physical, relational, and spiritual health.
- Includes regular check-ins to monitor progress and suggest experiments that will help you move toward your goals. My check-ins sound something like this: "So, tell me what are you taking out of today's session, and what you're going to work on between now and the next time I see you?"
- Ends therapy as soon as possible, rather than when your money runs out."
Read on to Page 3
3/2/2015 8:00:00 AM
Written by Betsy Sansby
When you're really struggling, you need more than a good listener. You need someone who can sort through the details fast, and get you moving in a healthier direction as quickly as possible.
You can expect me to:
-- Ask direct questions
-- Notice what others miss
-- Tell you what I really think
...
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Website: http://www.betsysansby.com/
Comments
http://staging.wellness.com/blog/13219481/how-to-tell-a-good-therapist-from-a-mediocre-one/betsy-sansby/page-2
Clearly a therapist who represents a classical Analysis position has "missed the boat." As has any who have assumed a "one up, one down" relationship. Another consideration is whether the counselor assists the client with not just release of emotion, but the processing of this content in a helpful, therapeutic way. Finally, in agreement with the piece above, the therapist must act as an ally and facilitator. The client is not to be considered as merely a research subject or a student upon which one imparts information. Moreover, psychotherapy is much more than simple active listening; there must be something dynamic going on.
Posted by Dr. TCH
http://staging.wellness.com/blog/13219481/how-to-tell-a-good-therapist-from-a-mediocre-one/betsy-sansby/page-2
Woody Allen said, "After 25 years of therapy, my therapist said something that brought tears to my eyes. He said. "No Habla Englis."
Posted by jai
http://staging.wellness.com/blog/13219481/how-to-tell-a-good-therapist-from-a-mediocre-one/betsy-sansby/page-2
Your article is spot on and excellent! It is difficult to know that people are receiving "meh" therapy. What a waste!
Posted by Dr. Deborah Simmons
http://staging.wellness.com/blog/13219481/how-to-tell-a-good-therapist-from-a-mediocre-one/betsy-sansby/page-2
Okay so basically it sounds like I have to fire my therapist and find a new one as there is no way I'm bringing up these points or my general dissatisfaction. That's going to be stressful but I'm not making progress! She's going to tell me I'm not even healthy enough to make that determination. Thank you for sharing.
Posted by tmb
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