Are you thinking of taking therapy, or are you in therapy? Then, this is the right article for you. Therapy can help with a lot of mental health issues. Moreover, you do not need to be anxious or depressed to take therapy; you can also take it when your life is not going as per your plan, and you are feeling overwhelmed. Therapy can help you understand yourself and your negative patterns better. However, it only works when your therapist is ideal for you. There are bad therapists out there, and there are some therapists who are incredible but not the right fit for you. So, how do you know your therapist is ideal for you? Well, here are a few signs you should take note of.
They listen to you
A therapist’s job is to listen to their clients, so they must be perfect at it. Right? Well, not everyone! Listening is not just hearing what you say but also understanding the meaning behind your words and actively asking questions for more insights. If you find your therapist distracted by a grocery list or another client waiting, or if they are constantly looking at their watch, they are not the right fit for you. It means it is time to look for a new therapist. Finding a good therapist is challenging, and luxury depression treatment centers have the best professional therapists working, you can always change if the current therapist doesn’t seem like the right fit for you.
They make you feel validated
A good therapist should make you feel validated. Every thought, action, emotion, and experience you feel, they should acknowledge that as you share the true version of what you are experiencing. Also, they should avoid making judgments of approval or disapproval.
They should be strong communicators
A good therapist listens well, as that is a major part of their job. However, they also need to be strong communicators. They need to be able to educate you about your symptoms and help you come up with a plan for starting your healing process. Moreover, mental health issues and brain chemistry have terms like happy hormones or more that are not easy to understand. Your therapist should have good communication skills to ensure you understand those terms in a better way.
They do constant check-ins with you
Even after a few sessions, sometimes you might not feel comfortable speaking to your therapists about certain subjects. This may include your dissatisfaction with the therapist and how they are treating you. However, a good therapist will try to check in with you by asking you questions regarding the treatment and if you are satisfied with it. If not, they might come up with a different plan altogether. Moreover, sometimes, even after trying everything else, you and your patient are just not the right fit for you. In that case, the therapist might encourage you to choose someone else. That is a sign of a good theorist—maybe not a fit for you, but definitely a good one.
They do not make you feel judged or ashamed
You talk about a lot of uncomfortable things with your therapist. It can be embarrassing for you to talk about certain things. A good therapist will never make you feel judged. If they are or are looking for ways to fix you, then they are not a good therapist. You are not something broken that needs fixing. You are a human who needs to heal to have a better future. So, you need an ally whom you can trust to make things better.
They challenge you in a healthy way
A good therapist will challenge you or your ways if they are not productive or helping you in a healthy way. For any approach or habit that is not good for you, a therapist who is perfect for you will challenge you to make things better.
They do not bring their problems to the table
A good therapist listens to you and your problems. But it is not mutual; they do bring their problems to the table. They might share a few anecdotes as an example but never share their issues with you.
Conclusion
Finding the right therapist is so essential to getting better. It needs to be a perfect relationship so you are comfortable telling your therapist everything and healing yourself for a bright future. Notice these signs to ensure your therapist is right for you, and if you have anything to add, comment down below.