How do I choose the right therapist?

Finding the right therapist can be a minefield, and how do you know you have someone reputable, ethical, qualified and who will provide the support you need?

There are many different kinds of therapy and some will be better suited to you than others so it is important to do a bit of research or take advice from a trusted source. What works for one person may not be best suited to another! Equally, it is important to find a therapist you feel completely safe and comfortable with - someone you can be vulnerable with, feel completely accepted by and able to share whatever you need to with no fear of judgement. Recommendations are a great initial indication, but again the connection between YOU and the therapist is so important so if you don’t feel it you should never be afraid to be honest and move on. Any reputable therapist will completely understand and even help you find someone who may be better suited. Each therapist will also have areas in which they are more experienced or have undertaken further training or have a particular interest or expertise, so this is another important thing to consider when exploring your options - never be afraid to ask questions.

There are so many routes to qualifying as a therapist but as the title is not protected by law it is essential to ensure the therapist you choose to support you is appropriately qualified and insured and that they can be found on the appropriate registers - COSCA, BABCP, Counselling Directory etc. Professional accreditation (explained below) comes with many benefits and reassurances, but it should be noted that there are still many excellent therapists out there who may not have gone down this route or who may still be working towards it.

I personally qualified with a Post Graduate Diploma (SCQA Level 11) in CBT & Groupwork and have gone on to achieve professional accreditation with BABCP (British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies). What does this mean? The route to accreditation involves hundreds of hours of client work and appropriate clinical supervision, a commitment to continuing professional development and a significant body of written work to demonstrate appropriate knowledge, skills and experience. Not for the faint hearted! This can only be undertaken where an appropriate qualification which is deemed of an acceptable standard and level by the BABCP has already been achieved. Accredited psychotherapists must continue to uphold appropriate standards and commitments in order to maintain that accreditation and a list of accredited therapists can be found on the BABCP website.

Being on an Accredited Register means that a therapist is well trained and meets agreed standards of practice. All registers publish a list of qualified practitioners on their website so that people can choose who treats them with confidence. If you are not satisfied with any aspect of your treatment, you can complain, and they will take action to keep the public safe.

Accredited Registers make sure that practitioners on their registers are well trained and meet their standards of practice, so that:

• Patients and service users can find the right person to treat them

• Employers and commissioners can recruit the right people

• GPs can send patients to the right people when they ask for a recommendation

• Accreditation means that a register has met the Authority’s demanding standards in the following areas: governance, setting standards for registrants, education and training, managing the register, providing information and complaints handling.

• Accreditation does not mean that the Authority has endorsed the efficacy of a treatment or therapy practised, or any other service offered, by registrants on an Accredited Register.

• Only registers accredited by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care can use the Quality Mark. The Quality Mark is a quick and easy way to spot someone who is guaranteed to meet high standards of care.

• Accreditation offers healthcare practitioners a means of demonstrating their personal commitment to meeting high standards by joining an Accredited Register.

• Being accredited by the Authority offers enhanced protection to anyone seeking healthcare services. People now have the option of choosing practitioners on a register that has been vetted and approved.

• Accreditation is an invisible safety net for people getting treatment; the more people use practitioners on a register, the more effective this safety net is.

• The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care recommends that anyone seeking care checks that the person they choose is registered with a regulator or Accredited Register. You can check at www.checkapractitioner.com

Whoever you choose as your therapist - whether it be me or someone else - the important thing is to find the right person and the right form of therapy. That may mean a bit of trial and error and confidence to speak up if your first choice doesn’t feel right, but any good therapist will wholeheartedly support you in that. You deserve nothing less!