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Originally Posted by JoeC2012
Any advice on how to find a good one? Any particular styles you think are most effective? In theory the idea of seeing a psychologist regularly sounds awesome to me, but in practice I agree finding a good one is really difficult.
The most effective style is the one that's most effective for you. If you have a specific thing you need help with like OCD or PTSD then I would suggest looking for a therapist who specializes in that thing.
In general, the signs to look for in a good therapist are:
1. Someone you're completely comfortable saying anything to. You can tell them all of your deepest darkest secrets and thoughts and they'll react with nothing but compassion, non-judgement, and helpfulness and will adhere to the confidentiality agreement.
2. Someone who will not make you so comfortable as to never challenge you or call you out on your bull****. A good therapist won't waste their time with a client who doesn't make any effort to change. A good therapist won't just sit there and nod their head and make you feel special.
3. As with any person you're paying to do anything, look for general signs of professionalism. I once went to a therapist whose office was a complete mess. Tons of books and papers stacked up all over her desk and the floor. I've heard of therapists who bring their dogs to work with them and allow the dogs to run around during sessions. I've heard of therapists who develop personal relationships with clients and then want to hang out with them outside of sessions.
4. Look for a therapist who is focused on you and what you need and won't project their own **** onto you. Some therapists get into the profession for all the wrong reasons. They're trying to give themselves treatment by talking to other people and getting paid doing it. It's a huge red flag if your therapist tells a lot of personal stories or details about their own life.