Other Points to Consider
Once you’ve decided that it’s time for family counseling, the arduous chore of locating and selecting the ideal therapist for you begins.
Here are some things to think about while selecting a family counselor.
- How comprehensively does your insurance cover family therapy? Health insurance now covers mental health services; however, family therapy is not necessarily considered mental health care. Check with your employer to discover whether your health insurance covers some marriage and family therapists in your area.
Finding therapists that accept your health insurance plan can take a lot of the financial burden out of the decision to seek professional care.
- What about implementing an Employee Assistance Program? Many firms provide their employees with an Employee Assistance Program. The EAP might be a wonderful place to begin your search for counseling options. Most EAPs use a “evaluate and refer” strategy to match you with a therapist who will work with your family. In addition, the service is frequently free or requires only a minor co-payment.
Your employer’s human resources department can tell you if an EAP is available and how to use it.
Identifying a Family Therapist
It can take some time and effort to find the perfect therapist. Here are some ideas to get you started on your hunt for the perfect match:
Consult your doctor. Family doctors can frequently refer patients to a skilled marriage and family counseling agency. In addition, family doctors typically provide insight into which family therapists in the area might offer the best treatment because they have worked with other families with similar challenges. Consider seeking advice from your doctor.
- Pastoral care is provided. If you are a member of a religious community, you can seek advice from your minister, pastor, rabbi, or another religious leader. Families with strong religious backgrounds are more likely to select a counselor of their faith.
- Online recommendations. The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy provides an online therapist directory tool to search for association members by geographic area.
- Individual recommendations. People who have benefited from a therapist’s services are excellent providers of therapist recommendations. If you know a family that has gone to counseling, inquire about their experience with their therapist. Learn how the therapist communicates and what specific activities they advised your friend to take.
Questions to consider.
When interviewing a therapist for the possibility of working with your family, ask the following questions:
- Where did you obtain your professional qualifications?
- Do you have a degree in family therapy or a comparable field?
- Who was in charge of your first clinical years?
- How long have you been doing this?
- What is your background in addressing my particular issue?
- What is your philosophical perspective on family therapy? There are various schools of thought within family therapy, and you should be aware of how the therapist you are considering views families and the tactics they employ.