How to Find the "Right" Therapist

It takes a lot of commitment and focus on the part of the addiction sufferer to get through the addiction treatment process. At the same time, it requires that a lot of other important things fall into the proper place.

One of the things that can really help with the addiction treatment process is a good match between the addiction sufferer and their therapist or therapists. There is an acute understanding among our therapists here at Hollywood Hills Recovery that it's vitally important that we make our counseling assignments based on getting the most value from the process.

If you have finally reached the point in your addiction where you want to reach out for help, you are to be commended. We have no doubt it was a difficult decision to make your well-being a priority. Now, you have to decide between two wellness treatment options. Your first option would be to contact us here at Hollywood Hills Recovery and put yourself in our hands.

If by chance you can't make the commitment to treatment from a rehab facility, your second option would be to start working with an independent therapist. That could be a licensed addiction counselor, psychologist, or psychiatrist.

Finding the Right Therapist in a Rehab Facility

In our opinion, addiction sufferers are best served by seeking treatment in an in-person residential addiction treatment center like Hollywoods Hills Recovery. It ensures the client will get plenty of attention as they go through a 30 to 60-day treatment program. They can also benefit from continuity of care as facilities like ours can offer detox programs, therapy, and aftercare programs.

If you were to choose a rehab, it would be the rehab's administrative staff who would help match you up with the right therapist. In our case, we would start the process with an intake interview. That interview would allow us to gather information about the circumstances surrounding your addiction. We would use the information we gather to match you with the right therapist.

During counseling, we would always be monitoring your progress to make sure interactions between you and your licensed therapist are going well. If there would be any evidence of communication issues or lack of progress, the possibility of a change would always be there. At all times, your best interest and mental health would be our top priorities.

Finding the Right Therapist as an Outside Source

While going to rehab would probably be your best option, we understand that not everyone has the wherewithal to make that choice. At the same time, we want to impress on you just how vital it is that you get help. Keep in mind, the percentage of people who can recover from a drug or alcohol addiction on their own is very small. With addiction therapy you can tackle the anxiety disorders that may be associated with the overall mental health issue.

In our desire to still be of assistance, we want to offer you some suggestions on how to find the right therapist for you. A new therapist should cover the areas of expertise needed to tackle addiction as a mental illness.

Locating Possibilities

Given the importance of finding the right potential therapist, seeking help from the internet should be your second alternative. Your first alternative should be asking family and friends for a reference to someone they know. Your healthcare professional would be a great place to get a referral, as they may find mental health services covered by your health insurance. Also, you might consider going to AA or NA meetings. It's very likely you'll run into someone who has worked with a reliable and reputable addiction therapist or professional counselor.

Confirm the Therapist's Experience in Working With Addiction Sufferers

There are a lot of quality therapists out in the psychiatric community. However, the number of therapists who have a lot of experience working with addiction sufferers is likely to be a bit smaller. It is important that specialization in mental health conditions like addiction is one of the particular issues your psychotherapist covers in their therapy sessions.

While any good therapist should be able to help you, you will always be better off finding one who actually specializes in treating addictions. They are more likely to be attuned to the nuances of the mindset of the addiction sufferer and their behaviors, something that should be made clear upon first session. If you have any doubts about their experience with addictions, you can certainly inquire about their credentials. Insurance companies can often verify their credentials through the American Psychological Association. If you find one who is certified as an addiction treatment therapist, that's a viable option.

Get References

Once you have identified an APA therapist with which you would like to work, you will be well advised to seek additional references. You can ask the therapist or her staff for references or visit the therapist's website.

While visiting the website, you should look around for information about the types of therapies they use, as well as the insurance plans they take. In particular, you should look for a therapist who uses evidence-based therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectal Behavioral Therapy. If you would prefer a holistic approach to treatment, you can look for a therapist that uses those options as well.

Interview the Therapist

After all else checks out, you should initiate contact with your therapist of choice. That could be by phone or you could request an appointment to discuss the treatment process.

The focus of your interview should be on your ability to communicate with them. You're looking for someone with knowledge, empathy, and a very strong bedside manner. When you find someone with whom you feel comfortable, that's the direction you should go.

We hope you find this information useful. If you, a family member, or a loved one is willing to commit to rehab, we would like to be your rehab of choice. For more information about the facility and our treatment modalities, we invite you to contact us as soon as possible.