Choosing the Right Therapist- A Guide for First Responders
Mar 25, 2024
You recognize that you need some support for your mental health and made the courageous decision to reach out for help. That’s a huge step, and you are on the right path to regaining your quality of life. However, you now face a decision that can sometimes make or break your journey: who do you go to for therapy?
When I needed to access psychological support as a police officer, I was fortunate to have access to a list of “preferred providers” that greatly reduced the friction to seeking therapy. This list provided me with names, bios, and contact information for numerous psychologists to choose the one I felt would best fit me.
I was lucky to find a great fit with the first psychologist I met. However, I know many members who were not so lucky. Depending on your location or agency, you might have broad access to numerous psychologists or minimal choices. I’m writing this article to provide some guidance to help you decide who you should see. I hope this will increase your ability to recover and reduce the odds of needing to switch therapists.
3 Tips for Choosing the Right Psychologist:
- Select a psychologist specializing in your mental health issues and – if possible – your industry.
If you had a foot injury, would you rather see your family physician or a podiatrist (“foot doctor”)? Although your family doctor would provide you with some decent support, the podiatrist would be much more capable of accurately identifying the problem and quickly fixing the issue.
It’s the same thing with mental health. Plenty of psychologists are excellent generalists, but you want the best option for what you are dealing with. If you suspect you have PTSD, you want to find someone who specializes in trauma therapy. If you have marital issues, you will want to find someone specializing in family/marital counseling. If you have the luxury of options, pick the best one for your needs.
In addition, military personnel and first responders face unique challenges inherent to their profession. Finding someone who specializes in or has worked in your industry can be beneficial because they will likely better understand your situation.
- Select a psychologist you believe you will be comfortable with.
There’s no hard and fast rule here because you won’t know for sure until you meet your therapist, but pick one you feel you will resonate with. You can ask your peers for recommendations or read the biographies on the therapist’s website to see which one speaks to you the most. Many psychologists will also offer a free call or consultation – a short call you can use to assess if they might be a fit.
After meeting your therapist, you need to form a bond and know you can trust them. Therapy involves significant vulnerability, so you want to click with them. Make sure you give yourself enough time with them to gauge this accurately but don’t be afraid to find someone else if you don’t connect.
- Continue with a psychologist who is providing results.
You’ve carefully selected your psychologist and formed a bond. You’ve seen them numerous times but don’t notice positive improvements in yourself. You start to wonder what’s wrong with you. Why isn’t this working?
Like any profession, some therapists are more skilled than others, and some offer more treatment options. If you are doing your homework, following your therapist's advice, and still not seeing positive results, that could be an indication that the therapy options are insufficient for your needs.
I will use the example of PTSD treatments. Treatment options include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Accelerated Resolution Therapy, EMDR, and many more. You might be seeing a psychologist who is only trained in one or two options, and they haven’t been working. That’s okay, but that might be a sign you need a different treatment option with a different psychologist. Before you make this decision, make sure you are following their advice and communicating your challenges with them so they have an opportunity to adjust treatment.
Conclusion:
Regardless of how carefully you select a psychologist, sometimes they might not be a good fit for you. Whether it’s a personality conflict, ineffective treatment, or a lack of bond, these things can happen. I’ve seen friends and family members stick with a therapist despite not making progress because they didn’t know their options. I’ve also heard of numerous people giving up on therapy because they “tried it once, and it didn’t work.”
The best advocate for your treatment is yourself, and that starts with being selective of who you work with. Your best bet is to find a therapist who specializes in your mental health issue and your industry. From there, they should be someone you trust and are comfortable with. Once that’s achieved, you need to ensure you are doing the work your therapist recommends. If you are still not improving, it might be time to switch.
Lastly, remember that your therapist is human and acts on the information they receive from you. You must communicate openly and transparently with them so they can adjust the treatment if necessary. If you’ve taken ownership of everything you can control, don’t be afraid to change therapists if things are not working out how you need them to.
