There are many reasons someone may seek therapy. Some see it as an opportunity for personal growth and development, while others see a therapist’s office as a mecca for discussing deep-seated issues and unresolved trauma. In either case, finding the right therapist is the first hurdle those seeking therapy must overcome.
But what are the most important factors to consider when navigating a health care system that doesn’t always streamline the process of finding the right mental health professional?
“The first thing I always tell someone is, there are no legal regulations in this country, so make sure the person you meet is certified,” Marie Walsh of Leeson Center for Analysis says the doctor. “This means that if you have a problem with a member of a professional body, you can file a complaint regarding professional ethics. You cannot stop them from practicing because there is a law, but you cannot file an ethics complaint. You can stop someone from being referred.”
A psychoanalytic psychotherapist based in Dublin recommends visiting the websites of professional bodies such as: Irish Counseling and Psychotherapy Association (IACP). She says there are “different denominations” of therapy, so it can be confusing to know which type of therapy is best for you.
“The variety of psychotherapies is increasing,” says Dr. Damien Rowley, a chartered member of the association. Irish Psychological Society.
“Some are similar to each other, while others are quite different and different from each other. I think most people have probably heard of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which is certainly more widely used and different from each other. It is one of the most widely studied forms of therapy, and its approach is very practical. That’s why it can be so appealing to people. Very structured. It may become.”
These include emotion-focused therapy, compassion-focused therapy, and schema therapy. Dr. Rowley says it’s inaccurate to say that one type of treatment is much more effective than another because there are benefits to be gained by using a particular treatment model.
“What you actually notice in the real world is that there are some people [experts] They are very pure about their therapy model, and they identify themselves as CBT therapists, CBT practitioners, or schema therapists, which is very common,” he explains. “But what is very common is people who describe themselves as integrative therapists, so they pick out from a variety of treatment models what is very effective, appropriate and practical, and then they put it together in a very effective way. We succeeded in combining it with
Cady Walker, an integrative psychotherapist and founder of the mental health and wellness center Mynd, says generic treatments pose some problems and patients need to seek out specialized trained therapists.
“The biggest thing to consider is that most therapists have core training, which means they can support clients with most problems,” she says. “However, therapists tend to specialize in topics from eating disorders to sex therapy after initial core training, and certain clients may find it more beneficial to seek out a therapist who specializes in these.” there is.”
The Wicklow-based specialists have seven psychotherapists at their centers and have niche industry knowledge when it comes to getting the right support and building strong therapeutic connections. He states that having a therapist is more beneficial. “For example, if a client is addicted to an active substance, they should actually consider going to an addiction therapist or even undergoing rehabilitation.
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“Within the Rehabilitation Center, clients work with a multidisciplinary team, including addiction therapists, to provide the best possible support for our clients.
“that [specialised] The therapist can probably hold you in that space a little more. And when I say hold, I mean support and bring that kind of knowledge and actually take you on a journey to healing. That’s one thing I really think. Whatever you want to work on, it’s important to see if your therapist has a little training in that area. Because it just gives you more connection. ”
relationship
Dr Damian Rowley, Chartered Fellow of the Irish Psychological Society, says a strong relationship between therapist and client is key to determining the effectiveness of therapy.
“The biggest piece of the therapeutic pie in determining positive and beneficial outcomes is really the therapeutic relationship,” he says. “So I tend to think that the relationship is the basis of the therapeutic process. Then there’s the model and its fit to the person, and their willingness to work with us. Then there’s the therapist’s skill with the model and There is knowledge, and a way to apply it to personal situations. But if the relationship does not serve almost as a rudder, it is unlikely to be optimal.
“If the model itself is final and final, then we are all going to be very threatened by AI and AI platforms that only explain manualized versions such as CBT and schemas. I think it will be.”
According to Dr. Lowery, factors that create a strong therapeutic relationship include a therapist’s deep empathy, positive mindset, and ability to show approval and acceptance that is not misconstrued. “Empathetic ability on the part of the therapist is important,” he explains. “Also important is the ability and skill of the therapist to be able to show unconditional positive regard in the form of a form of acceptance.
“So, I accept you as you are. No matter what happens, no matter what happens, no matter what you do, no matter what you may feel uncomfortable sharing, please feel free to share here. Okay, everything’s fine, and we’ll talk about it openly and honestly.” But at the same time, don’t confuse that with approval or anything like that. It’s about providing an accommodating and accepting environment. ”
sex
Regarding the therapist’s gender, the Dublin-based therapist believes that favoring one gender over another is not fair to the person, especially if they may be affected by issues raised in therapy. It states that it is a standard. “If there’s a gender aspect to what they’re coming to therapy for to work on and discuss, that can be heightened even more.
“Over the years, I’ve found that if someone is in an abusive relationship with a woman attending me, and that partner is a man, telling someone like me about it creates a sense of vulnerability. This issue may come up from time to time because there is a possibility of heightened or fight-or-flight aspects of that gender. But that is not always the case, and in fact, especially as in the case of However, it can also be advantageous for individuals. [client] Because it was almost a corrective experience. In a way, it showed and proved that not all humans are necessarily bad. ”
timing
Walker says knowing when is the right time to seek treatment depends on whether the person is seeking maintenance therapy or crisis intervention. “She has two views on this,” she says. “One of them is what’s called maintaining mental health. So if you can afford it and you can go, therapy is great, because when something happens you can actually get through it. Because you always want to have the tools in your toolbox to have the resilience to be resilient. On the other hand, most people fall into a crisis.
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“Obviously, events happen in life that require crisis intervention. But generally, people have never done enough work before to be able to have the resilience to get through it. So , I think it’s two-fold. There’s also the aspect of building resilience and being able to get through the kinds of things that probably aren’t motivating a crisis when you’re not actually in a crisis. But on the other hand, I think like anyone who’s going through it, no matter what you’re going through right now, going to therapy right away will help support you through the process.”
Dr. Walsh says the best time to seek treatment is when something is wrong for the individual. “Now is the time for problems. Take, for example, eating disorders, which are very common today. Many people who have eating disorders don’t have a problem. Probably. It may be the same for their parents or friends, but it’s not necessarily a problem for them.”
departure
“So there’s usually some evidence that people are doing well,” Dr. Rowley says. [ending therapy] is part of a treatment course and is not something that you do for 10 sessions every week and then suddenly stop.
“Often there are 6, 10, 20, 30 sessions, but they taper off. So if an individual is doing well, we can lengthen the time between sessions and see how that works out for them. This will help you trust your own ability to deal with your situation, your lifestyle, or the problem you’re working on in particular.
“I think it’s important that we don’t run the risk of therapy becoming something that individuals use like a crutch or become almost unconsciously dependent on. Wherever possible, we aim to help individuals become independent, capable, energetic and resilient.
“My goal when I start working with someone is always to make myself unnecessary, and that’s the best result I can achieve. Sometimes it’s unexpected, but usually there’s a trigger. , it’s like an occasion for some level of celebration: “I hope we never see each other again” is the farewell joke. Because that’s what we both ultimately wanted in the first place.”
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