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July 2009 Fast Help: Re-Entry Into Therapy: Selecting An
Appropriate Clinician
Fast Help: Re-Entry Into Therapy: Selecting An Appropriate Clinician Clients who have received psychotherapy services in the past sometimes decide to return to therapy when a new issue arises in their lives. Some are confused whether or not to see their former therapist or to start therapy with a different therapist. It is important to take account of the particular concerns you are having. Like any other professional, therapists work within the scope of their education, training, and experience. You may wish to connect with your prior therapist to ask if they specialize in working with your particular current issue(s). If your former therapist works with the issue(s) of concern and you felt comfortable and worked well with him or her, it may be advisable to work with him/her again if you experienced successful results. If that therapist doesn't work with your present concerns or isn't taking new clients, ask for the name of another professional they might recommend. If your therapist has moved out of the area, ask friends or relatives who they might recommend for a consultation. In this case, you may also wish to contact another therapist in your area to obtain recommendations. What is crucial is the ability to feel comfortable with the therapist who specializes with your area of concern. Too often, clients assume therapists all have the same backgrounds. Successful therapy is determined not only by the qualifications of the therapist, but also for the client to be comfortable enough with the therapist for the client to open up to the therapist and discuss sensitive issues. As clinicians, we are happy to consult with you to assess current concerns, and to connect you with the appropriate therapist and/or support network. Do not be afraid to ask questions. Goodness of fit is essential for optimal treatment outcomes. Therapist Q&A: Common Misconceptions About Psychotherapy In our work, we frequently hear many mis-truths about the field of therapy and what therapists do and the people they see. As with any field, it is important to help educate the public in order for people to have the ability to make an informed decision about their care. Below are a few common misconceptions about therapy. First, it is oftentimes assumed that psychotherapists work only
with people who are mentally ill or "crazy." While therapists
work with people who are experiencing significant mental health
issues, therapists work very often with people who are experiencing
every day stressors and are looking to learn and implement new
coping strategies to deal with their problems. Therapists also
work with loved ones or family members of people afflicted with
mental illness to assist them with coping. Psychology News In Brief A recent study from the Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology
(online) found that television programs geared for children as
young as seven "contain nearly three times as much physical
violence as shows for 14-year olds." Dr. Douglas Gentile,
psychologist from Iowa State University and study co-author states
that "[TV industry] ratings don't measure what parents expect
that they measure," pointing out that programs containing
more aggression don't necessarily translate into more restrictive
ratings in terms of age appropriateness. (From Monitor on Psychology,
May 2009). Programs to Help You In addition to the traditional counseling services we provide, Clinical Psychology Associates also offers the following: · Depression Screening For information regarding any of these programs or to schedule a confidential consultation, please contact our programs coordinator, Chris Lerner, LCSW, at lernerc@hotmail.com or 262-251-1112, ext 8. For a full listing of the services we offer, please go to http://www.clinical-psychology-associates.com/services.htm FREE CONSULTATIONS THERAPIST BLOG "Life isn't a matter of milestones but of moments." ~Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy "Unlike fine wine, conflicts that are left alone rarely improve with age." ~Eric Harvey "The most important things in life aren't things." ~Anthony D'Angelo About Clinical Psychology Associates Clinical Psychology Associates is a state-certified outpatient
counseling center providing a high level of care to its clients
for over 25 years. To read previous editions of this newsletter, please visit our archived newsletter section on our website at: http://www.clinical-psychology-associates.com/newsletter.htm Written by Gary Breuer, MA, LPC
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Clinical
Psychology Associates State Certified Clinic 262.251.1112 |