What Type of Therapist Should I See? A Guide to Choosing the Right Mental Health Professional
When seeking therapy, the amount of options can be overwhelming. There are many different types of mental health professionals, different licensures, and unique therapeutic modalities. We hope to offer a bit of clarity about what type of therapist may be best for you here.
We will cover the things you may want to consider when choosing your therapist, including specific issues, types of therapists, and therapeutic modalities. If you’re unsure about what may be right for you, please reach out and we can present you with some options and recommendations.
What Do You Need Support With?
Some people seek therapy without a specific issue in mind. But many have some aspect of their lives that they wish to address. Knowing what you want to work on may help point you in a useful direction. We’ll cover all of these different therapeutic modalities in a bit. Below you’ll find common difficulties and what the research suggests is useful as far as therapies.
As you read this, I want to encourage you to remember that this is based off of research and general data. Although one method may be most useful for the general population, individuals are still unique. What works for the most people in a study may not be exactly what you need!
Anxiety
Much research, including this meta-analysis of over 60 studies, has found CBT to be the most effective form of therapy for anxiety. It’s associated with the best long-term outcomes. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) have also been found to be useful, followed by relaxation therapy and psychodynamic therapy.
Depression
With depression, the research suggests Behavioral Activation (BA) to be the most effective. This is a component of CBT, but also can be used as a standalone method. CBT, Interpersonal Psychotherapy, and third-wave CBT methods (such as ACT and MBCT) are also effective.
Trauma and PTSD
Prolonged Exposure, a type of CBT, is often found in research to be the most effective modality for treating trauma. EMDR, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Somatic Experiencing also have support from recent studies.
Relationship Issues
For relationship issues, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is often cited as the most effective. Behavioral Couple Therapy (BCT), a form of CBT for couples, is also effective. Other therapies like the Gottman Method have plenty of research to back its usefulness.
Addiction
When it comes to substance use or addiction, the research suggests CBT to be the most effective treatment modality. Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a close second, and addiction counseling can also be effective. Harm reduction therapy is useful for those with mild-to-moderate substance abuse problems
Life Transition and Stress
When it comes to life transitions or general stress, CBT again is useful. ACT, MBCT, narrative therapy, and EFT have also been found to be useful.
Types of Therapists and Clinicians
There are many types of counselors, therapists, and mental health professionals. Choosing the right one may seem difficult at first. Here’s a breakdown of the different types of mental health professionals that offer therapy and counseling.
Psychologist
A psychologist generally holds a doctorate in the form of a PhD or PsyD. A PhD will generally be slightly more research-oriented, while a PsyD is more practicioner-focused. Psychologists often have more training in psychological assessment and testing. If you need a formal evaluation for ADHD, disability, custody evaluations, etc., a psychologist will be able to help you.
LMFT
An LMFT is a licensed marriage and family therapist. Despite the name, LMFT’s do not just focus on couples or families. Their training focuses on clinical work, emotional relationships, and various therapeutic modalities. In many states, such as California, LMFT’s are what we think of when we think of a general therapist.
LCSW
And LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker. In practice, LCSW’s can work in very similar manners to LMFT. However, their training may focus a bit more on social and environmental factors, leaning more toward the social work end of the therapeutic spectrum.
LPCC
An LPCC is a licensed professional clinical counselor. They offer general mental health counseling and can treat a variety of disorders. Their training is similar to that of LMFT’s and LCSW’s, but they focus more on therapeutic modalities for individuals than families/relationships or social factors.
Psychiatrist
Like a psychologist, a psychiatrist is actually a doctor. They are able to prescribe medication, and focus less on actual therapy. Often, psychiatrists will work alongside a therapist to offer both medication management and talk therapy.
Therapeutic Modalities
Finally, there are many different types of individual therapy. When choosing a therapist, you may want to find a therapist offering the modality that has the best chance of working for you.
CBT
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is one of the most researched forms of therapy. It’s used effectively to help treat anxiety, depression, OCD, and many other disorders. Whether you’re experiencing some anxiety at night or panic attacks, CBT can be helpful.
CBT focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors. Together with your therapist, you will investigate how thoughts and actions may be causing emotional distress, and what changes can be made to improve your wellbeing.
DBT
Dialectical Behavior Therapy was originally developed to treat borderline personality disorder, but is now widely used to help treat general emotional dysregulation, self-harm, anxiety, and other mood disorders.
DBT teaches practical skills for working with intense emotions, distress tolerance, communication skills, and staying present through mindfulness. A type of CBT, DBT can be a bit more intensive than other forms of therapy.
ACT
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is a type of CBT that falls under the category of third-wave CBT. With ACT, individuals work to accept emotional experiences as they are and commit to pragmatic steps that fit with your personal values, needs, and goals. There is a major focus on allowing difficult emotions and thoughts without resistance, suppression, or avoidance.
Focusing on changing one’s relationships to symptoms rather than eliminating them, ACT is used to treat anxiety disorders, depression, stress, OCD, PTSD, addiction, and eating disorders.
EMDR
EMDR is a structured therapy that is most useful in treating PTSD and trauma. Although it is used these days to treat depression, anxiety, and stress, it really is most effective at treating trauma. We offer online EDMR therapy, and really focus on trauma-related symptoms with our treatments.
In EMDR therapy, your therapist will help you process traumatic and distressing memories. This is done with bilateral stimulation, most often in the form of eye movements or tapping. In this way, EMDR helps the brain reprocess the memories so they don’t carry quite the emotional charge.
MBCT
Another form of third-wave CBT, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy is essentially CBT combined with mindfulness. In MBCT, you will find ways to be more aware of thoughts and emotions without the habitual reactions. By watching the thoughts with less reactivity, we can get to know the processes of the mind more clearly.
MBCT is used to treat anxiety, stress, and depression. It has been found to be especially helpful with recurrent cases, and can be offered alongside other forms of CBT.
EFT
Emotionally Focused Therapy is a relationship-focused approach that is especially useful in work with couples. It helps identify unhealthy patterns of interaction, strengthen emotional bonds, and communicate more effectively in your relationship.
It is used with all kinds of relationship issues, such as emotional affairs, relationship dissatisfaction, and lack of communication. It also can be used quite effectively with families or friends, not just in intimate relationships.
MI
Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative form of therapy that aims to help individuals uncover their own motivation and reasons for making changes. The therapist helps the individual strengthen their personal resolve rather than telling the person what to do.
Although Motivational Interviewing can be incorporated into many types of treatment, it is often used to help treat addiction and support healthy lifestyle changes.
Psychodynamic Therapy
Rooted in the work of Freud, psychodynamic therapy investigates past experiencies, unconscious mental patterns, and early relationships. The intention is to see how current emotions, thoughts, and behaviors are influenced by these factors.
It has been found to help in the treatment of a variety of conditions, including depression, anxiety, trauma, and relationship issues. Rather than just solution-oriented therapy, psychodynamic therapy aims to develop deep self-awareness.
Humanistic
Humanistic therapy, or person-first therapy, emphasizes the individual’s general potential for growth. Humanistic therapy isn’t just focused on treating a specific symptom or disorder; it focuses on your more general experience and helping you make healthy choices for who you are. It is rooted in non-judgement, empathy, and authenticity.
Humanistic therapy is excellent for personal growth, self-esteem issues, life transitions, identity crises, and general stress.
Questions to Ask When Choosing a Therapist
When meeting a therapist for the first time, you may want to ask a few questions to see if they’re a good fit for your needs. Here’s a few questions you might consider asking:
Do you have experience treating symptoms such as mine?
What type of therapy do you offer?
Do you have any specialty trainings or certifications?
How long do clients typically stay in therapy?
What is your availability and scheduling process?
What experience do you have with my cultural background, identity, or values?
Online vs. In-Person Therapy
Another factor worth considering is if you want online or in-person therapy. Here at One Mind Therapy, we’ve been offering online therapy in California since 2018. There are many benefits of online therapy, but we also realize it isn’t for everyone.
If you have a busy life with work, school, family obligations, etc., online therapy can be more accessible. You also get the opportunity to meet with specialists outside your immediate area. If you desire more deep and personal connection with face-to-face contact, in-person therapy may be a better fit for you.
Getting Started with Therapy
Much like any change we make in our life, getting started with therapy requires taking action. You can research the different types of therapist, consider your needs, and know clearly what you want. But in order to actually get started you need to reach out and contact a therapist.
Remember most therapists and practices will have a free, no-commitment consultation. You can ask your questions, see if you’re a good fit with your therapist, and get recommendations for your personal experience. You can use the form below to reach out to us to find the right therapist for you.