Can I Get a Bargain
and Where Do I Find It?
If you're already one of those who thrives on discourses of
the psyche and considers yourself pretty psychologically savvy,
asking a trusted friend for a recommendation is not a bad
place to start. There may be conflicts with sharing a therapist,
but you're likely to get a referral to someone else who is
equally reputable. If you'd rather keep your decision a private
one, ask your internist or primary physician for a recommendation.
They should be very accustomed to providing this information
and have suggestions readily available. Physicians can peruse
your insurance provider list to find someone they know who
is covered by your particular insurance company. If all else
fails, there are psychotherapy referral sources that provide
names and phone numbers of trained clinicians in your area.
Many insurance companies serve the same function, if you're
the kind of person that doesn't mind several "blind dates"
versus being "fixed up." Given the state of managed care involvement
in health care services in general, it can be tough to find
recommended professionals on your provider list who are taking
"managed care" referrals. Furthermore, needing to request
additional sessions after only a few can feel like an invasion
of privacy and an impediment to the process overall. It may
ultimately reward you in the long run to reassess your budget
and pay top dollar for quality expertise. (After all, most
of us don't hesitate to pay for a top-notch health club to
maintain our physical well being.) Incidentally, if you're
interested in more intensive psychoanalysis, there are several
training institutes in New York and most major metropolitan
areas that provide reduced fees for patients willing to be
seen more than once per week with their psychoanalytic training
candidates. If you've exhausted many of these options and
are under financial strain, most hospitals have outpatient
mental health clinics which can negotiate a reasonable fee,
and by luck of the draw you may find yourself assigned to
a very seasoned, competent professional.
Is She Dr. Right?
You've gotten the referral, understand the clinician's credentials,
worked out a fee, and dealt with your health insurance.
Now, how do you decide if the therapist is a good fit? For
the type of psychotherapy that is being addressed here,
the most important factor to consider is the extent to which
you feel understood. Some people feel that they should only
see a therapist who is female (or male), homosexual (or
heterosexual), Catholic (or Jew). The temptation to find
someone just like us is alluring, yet shortsighted. Although
there may ultimately be issues that emerge on account of
therapist/patient differences at some point, these should
not deter you in beginning to work with someone with whom
you feel clearly and deeply understood. "He gets me!" is
your internal stamp of approval that you've found yourself
a therapist. Along the same lines, it's also important to
feel that he/she is open to hear and talk about whatever
you may bring into the office. The first few sessions are
your time to ask questions about the therapist's credentials,
experience, and approach. Ask and the responses you receive
will help guide your decision. The first few sessions are
the time to test the water for both you and the therapist,
after which both parties decide whether to enter into a
working agreement, or alternatively keep looking. His/her
reliability, punctuality, and maintenance of professional
boundaries are also, of course, essential. If something
feels yucky to you, than it most likely is. Also, don't
hesitate to meet with more than one for a few sessions initially
if you have doubts.
If after reading this
you're exhausted and feel like plopping down on the nearest
couch, then youčre ready! Deciding to invest your time and
money in quality psychotherapy may be one of the healthiest
moves you make toward guiding your life in a more fulfilling
direction.
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