Yes, most psychologists will cost around $100 per hour, but some offer services on a sliding-scale fee basis, if you are not going through insurance (there is a "self pay" discount of about 20% on medical services that you may ask about).
How to know if you are choosing the right therapist? This is such a great question, because we do not want to become emotionally dependent on our therapist if this is the exact "problem" we are trying to correct in our current relationships.
First of all, since you are so self-aware of your tendencies and sound mature enough to verbalize this as a potential problem-area, then you may not need to worry about this as much as you are. Talk with your therapist about this concern, too.
The American Psychological Association (APA) has a few questions to ask a potential therapist, to gauge if they are "right" for you:
- What areas do you specialize in (i.e., family therapy, marriage counseling, etc.)?
- What kind of treatment do you usually use, and why do you feel this would be effective for my situation?
- How long would you expect my treatment to last?
You will probably want to call at least 3 therapists who meet your criteria (credentials, experience, philosophy/modality used, word-of-mouth reference, rapport over the phone, fees, location, etc.). Once you talk with each of them on the phone, you will have a better sense of who is a good fit; and even after meeting with them a few times, you may want to try another therapist..this is OK!
A good therapist is not someone who will tell you what to do, try to control you, manipulate you, or demand your emotional energy. They there primarily to provide support, guidance, questions and to listen non-judgmentally. A "real" relationship is not able to provide this type of one-sided attention. You will know if the therapist is "good" if they are frustrating at times; you want him/her to tell you what to do, or tell you what you want to hear...but they will instead ask more questions, provide their perspective and ask you to comment. A good therapist will also tell you their philosophy or treatment modality which is important: how do they treat different conditions, how long does treatment last, how do they know if there is improvement. There should be a clear end to the therapist-client relationship, or a clear marker of improvement...and this is very different from an emotional intimate relationship.
I hope this helps to answer some of your questions on if a therapist is actually "helping" or not. Let me know how else I can help!
Another cheaper alternative: do you live near a University? Many colleges and universities offering degree programs in psychology have individual and group counseling sessions at a HUGE discount for the students who need "clinic time" (basically practicing on clients), and they do meet the credential criteria, and have a Psychologist reviewing their cases. Just another option for you.
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Yes, most psychologists will cost around $100 per hour, but some offer services on a sliding-scale fee basis, if you are not going through insurance (there is a "self pay" discount of about 20% on medical services that you may ask about).
How to know if you are choosing the right therapist? This is such a great question, because we do not want to become emotionally dependent on our therapist if this is the exact "problem" we are trying to correct in our current relationships.
First of all, since you are so self-aware of your tendencies and sound mature enough to verbalize this as a potential problem-area, then you may not need to worry about this as much as you are. Talk with your therapist about this concern, too.
The American Psychological Association (APA) has a few questions to ask a potential therapist, to gauge if they are "right" for you:
- What areas do you specialize in (i.e., family therapy, marriage counseling, etc.)?
- What kind of treatment do you usually use, and why do you feel this would be effective for my situation?
- How long would you expect my treatment to last?
You will probably want to call at least 3 therapists who meet your criteria (credentials, experience, philosophy/modality used, word-of-mouth reference, rapport over the phone, fees, location, etc.). Once you talk with each of them on the phone, you will have a better sense of who is a good fit; and even after meeting with them a few times, you may want to try another therapist..this is OK!
A good therapist is not someone who will tell you what to do, try to control you, manipulate you, or demand your emotional energy. They there primarily to provide support, guidance, questions and to listen non-judgmentally. A "real" relationship is not able to provide this type of one-sided attention. You will know if the therapist is "good" if they are frustrating at times; you want him/her to tell you what to do, or tell you what you want to hear...but they will instead ask more questions, provide their perspective and ask you to comment. A good therapist will also tell you their philosophy or treatment modality which is important: how do they treat different conditions, how long does treatment last, how do they know if there is improvement. There should be a clear end to the therapist-client relationship, or a clear marker of improvement...and this is very different from an emotional intimate relationship.
I hope this helps to answer some of your questions on if a therapist is actually "helping" or not. Let me know how else I can help!
Another cheaper alternative: do you live near a University? Many colleges and universities offering degree programs in psychology have individual and group counseling sessions at a HUGE discount for the students who need "clinic time" (basically practicing on clients), and they do meet the credential criteria, and have a Psychologist reviewing their cases. Just another option for you.
December 1, 2009 - 3:28pmThis Comment
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