5 Crucial Ways to Avoid Choosing a Bad Therapist
With the right therapist, therapy can be empowering, create a supportive environment where you feel heard and understood, and teach you skills and coping mechanisms that can change your life.
With the wrong therapy, therapy can unfortunately cause much more harm than good. A bad therapist can leave you feeling shut down, closed off, and make you feel worse than you did when you came in.
Here at KMA Therapy, we know how big of a decision it is to begin therapy. For over 15 years, we’ve helped our clients and community learn about every step of the therapy process - beginning with finding a great therapist.
After reading this article, you’ll know five crucial ways to avoid choosing a bad therapist and feel ready to find the right therapist for you.
5 Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing a Therapist
Avoid these five mistakes in order to choose the right therapist for you.
1. Avoid seeing a therapist outside of your budget
A bad therapist for you is a therapist who doesn’t work with your budget.
If you have limited insurance, you may only be able to afford a few sessions with a more expensive therapist, as opposed to more sessions with a less expensive therapist.
When budgeting for therapy, consider:
- Whether you qualify for sliding-scale therapy rates
- The cost of childcare during your session (if applicable)
- If you have insurance and what type of therapy it covers
- The cost of transportation to and from in-person sessions
- How much you’re willing to pay for therapy per session and overall
You should also avoid seeing therapists who charge a lot more than other therapists with similar credentials.
Another factor to consider is how long your therapist expects you’ll be in therapy. Your therapist won’t always be able to predict the exact number of sessions you’ll need - and that’s okay!
Still, they should be able to give you a rough estimate of how many sessions you’ll have and how much you’ll be paying for therapy. The length of time you’re in therapy may change, but this should be an ongoing conversation with your therapist.
You don’t want to see a therapist who continues to see you when you no longer need support, just so they can make some more money.
Determining your price point and sticking to it is a great first step for finding the right therapist.
2. Avoid therapists who don’t have expertise in the area you’re looking for
If there’s a specific reason why you’re going to therapy, choose a therapist who specializes in that issue.
For example, if you’re looking for therapy to help manage symptoms of OCD, go to a therapist who is an expert in OCD and related forms of therapy.
Therapists will list their areas of expertise, their education, and other relevant information on their website and biographies. Don’t settle for a therapist who you don’t feel confident can help you.
Specialized forms of therapy, like Dialectical Behaviour Therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing, require specialized training to be done effectively. Don’t be afraid to ask about a therapist’s education and additional training to make sure they’re equipped to help you.
3. Avoid unqualified therapists
There are a ton of social media influencers and online personalities who call themselves therapists and life coaches without actually having the education or credentials to back it up.
Oftentimes, they charge a lot of money for quick-fixes they swear will change your life - and unfortunately, these programs can often be even more expensive than standard therapy sessions.
The term “therapist” is not regulated in Ontario, so make sure you’re seeing a registered social worker, psychotherapist, or psychologist.
Services like life coaching and career coaching can be a fantastic choice if you’re looking for a change in your life or work, but might not be the right choice if you’re looking for support with mental health issues. (Some life coaches are also registered psychotherapists, which can be another great option. Don’t be afraid to ask questions to make sure you’re getting the support you deserve!)
4. Don’t skip the first consultation
Whether the therapist offers a free phone consultation or a paid introductory session, don’t skip it.
Take this time to see if you have good rapport with the therapist, if you like the therapy clinic, and if things are easy to set up.
If there’s a huge hassle to even set up your introductory call, this can be a warning flag for further communication issues down the line.
If you find it hard to talk to the therapist in your first session, you might want to explore other options.
Read Therapy Introductory Session vs Free Consultation: Which is Right for Me? to learn more.
5. Don’t ignore the red flags
It’s normal to feel apprehensive when choosing a therapist, and there might be a few things about the therapy process that make you uncomfortable.
But these uncomfortable feelings shouldn’t last forever, and you should feel confident about your therapist’s availability to help you.
If something just feels off when talking to your therapist, don’t ignore it.
Therapist red flags include:
- They disregard or disrespect your values, identity, or beliefs
- They share too much about their personal life
- You feel uneasy around them
- They make you feel judged
- They seem distracted
- They don’t listen
There are a lot of great therapists to choose from, and it’s okay to be picky! If the first therapist you see isn’t right for you, that’s okay.
Next Steps for Starting Therapy
After reading this article, you know five mistakes to avoid when choosing a therapist in order to have a great therapy experience.
Here at KMA Therapy, we’re passionate about helping you find the right therapist for you. Whether your best match is here at KMA or at another great therapy practice in Toronto, these resources are here to help you choose what’s best for you.
Register online to connect with our team, or download our Therapy 101 Guide to learn more about how therapy can work for you.
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