Treating PTSD Symptoms: How To Choose a Therapist

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Seeking help can be an overwhelming decision. Sometimes, the earth may have to move, the planets align and the stars all gather from every galaxy before we actually admit, I can’t do this alone.

With such a big decision it’s OK to make to it s-l-o-w-l-y. Yes, we want to hurry up and heal, but treating PTSD symptoms is a little like the fable of the tortoise and the hare. We want it to happen fast, but true healing takes time. You can’t just click your heals together — you’ll have to work a little harder than that. The more we slowly plod along the healing path the better recovery will be because 1) we won’t be overwhelmed, 2) changes will be more organic, 3) healing is more when we naturally allow it to evolve.

One pattern I’ve seen from my own healing experience and all the survivors I’ve come to know: we often throw ourselves into helaing full force without any structure. We’ll do anything, try anything, take anything to get out of the hell we’re in. Not a great strategy.  Later, when we fail we’re miserable and depressed and conclude we’re untreatable, when the problem is that treating PTSD is a methodical not maniacal quest.

When you move toward the idea of seeking help, some ground rules: Settle in. Get comfortable. Put on your seatbelt, your helmet and your nonflammable jumpsuit and get ready for a crazy ride. One thing that can really help on the healing PTSD journey is having a good pit crew and pit boss. Having a good support network and a good therapist can make all the difference in how you cruise or crash.

I’ve done some sleuthing. There are many good resources for exploring and learning how to conceptualize the right therapeutic relationship. It’s worth highlighting advice from the National Center for PTSD. When it comes to choosing a therapist the Center suggests meeting with a few therapists as part of an interview process (for example, I interviewed 5 hypnotherapists over the phone before choosing one), or getting a referral from a trusted source. Then, a few important questions to ask:

1. What is your educational background? Are you licensed? How many years have you been practicing?
2. What are your areas of expertise?
3. What experience do you have working with people with trauma and or PTSD? Do you have any specialized training in PTSD treatment?
4. What kinds of PTSD treatments do you use? Have they been proven effective for dealing with my kind of problem or issue?
5. What are your fees? (Fees are usually based on a 45- minute to 50-minute session.) Do you have a sliding-scale fee policy? How much therapy would you recommend?
6. What types of insurance do you accept? Will you accept direct billing to or payment from my insurance company? Are you affiliated with any managed care organizations? Do you accept Medicare or Medicaid insurance?

To organize and get you going on your quest to seek help for treating your PTSD symptoms, I’ve made a list of resources. For more info check out the following sites:

Choosing the Right Mental Health Therapist (SAMHSA)
Choosing the Right Mental Health Therapist, Redux (4Therapy.com)
How to Choose A Therapist (Psychology Today)
How to Choose A Therapist, Redux (PsychCentral)

How to get started finding the right therapist — ask around through these resources:

• Physicians
• Religious/Spiritual Organizations
• Word of Mouth/Friends
• School Counselors
• Referral Lines Community Mental Health Centers
• Ads University Clinics
• Community Organizations and Centers

Want an anonymous referral online? No sweat, check out these options:

Psychology Today
FindATherapist.com
GoodTherapy.Org
TherapistLocator.net

What resources would you add to this list??

BRIDGE THE GAP EXERCISE:

Read through the links above. Get comfortable with the suggested questions and considerations involved in choosing a therapist. Then:

1 – Write out on one page all of the questions you find most important. You’ll be able to refer to this later when you’re interviewing and can’t remember everything at once.

2 –  List 5 sites, places or people you could ask for a referral for a therapist.

3 – Choose one person or organization from the list and make contact today. Don’t just think about it – do it! You’ve been thinking and alone long enough. It’s time to act! It’s time to begin healing so that you get your life back, so that you win and not the trauma; so that you regain your power and move on to live the life you were meant to be living.

 

(Photo: Champloo)

Tags: heal, ptsd, Seeking Help, symptoms, therapy, treat