As a therapist I would love to hear what people are looking for. Could anyone out there tell me what you hope to get or expect from a therapist? Are you afraid to go to one?

Thanks! That sounds like exactly what I do so I'm glad to hear it and your CBT therapist sounds awesome! CBT is such a great model - I'm sure you benefited from it! :-) And I'm glad to hear if you had a therapist you didn't like you moved on. There's no law that says you have to stay with the first person you meet!

I have become very cynical over therapists. My very first introduction was at about 20-something. The guy said he had strep throat or something than proceeded to communicate with me via his computer screen. That was not pleasant. Than I had the therapist who, upon meeting me, said "can you please not wear cologne here? Some of the others therapists/doctors are sensitive to smells. Than there was the lady who got up in the middle of a session to move her car because it was street sweeping day or something. So, my advice is to actually listen. Show interest and treat your clients like they are the most important thing for that 45-60 minutes.

I would just like two things in a therapist currently. 1) to actually find one!!! and 2) not a mean one! So far I found 2 therapists - literally called every place in NJ - and when I went to them, they did nothing but belittle me, made me even more nervous by their attitudes, didn't even give me enough time to answer their questions and told me to leave and go somewhere else!

I love my therapist. She is great. I think the most important thing to being a good therapist is actually listening to the patient, what their triggers are, what their fears are, what their goals are, etc., and helping them to come up with coping mechanisms and a plan. Too many times a therapist either isn't accepting certain insurances (especially things like Medicaid or other government funded health care) or they say they will only accept new patients who are at an in-patient treatment center or are hospitalized out of an ER visit. I literally called everyone in my provider book and found no one. Then, I browsed online and found a new practice. I emailed them, and the psychiatrist himself emailed me back and told me to call for an appointment. Between him and his team of PA-C's, RN's, and LSW's, things are going better. I'm still having major issues with things, especially since I have many other conditions that are complicating things at the moment, but it really helps to have a team in place who truly care about the patient's needs.

I'm scared to even try to find a therapist. I had some kind of panic attack/breakdown at work over a year ago and had to see a psychiatrist to get the all clear to go back to work. the questions they asked were long, hard, invasive and I agree with one person that the questions made me feel stupid. I had no idea that answering questions about current events or doing math problems in my head was going to be how they decided if I was EMOTIONALLY stable enough to go back to work. I guess I answered enough correctly, but I was made to feel stupid even though I am an intelligent person. Also I feel embarrassed to talk about my fears.

Jonathan Berent and the AKFSA foundation just put out a DVD set for therapist. My therapist and I watched them and our sessions have become extremely productive. I was able to easy identify and relate the areas that caused me to suffer. We both walked away with a common language that helps us communicate where I am at and what is needed to get better. I think most of the problem in therapy for me has been communication. I can hear the words but If I don't have a full understanding of the concepts behind what I am being told its nearly impossible for me to make the changes necessary. Another is knowing what is pertinent. Talking about all the problems of the week can feel good and builds trust and some understanding but learning how to get inside and to the root emotions or dissociation from emotions, erroneous thinking and underdeveloped reasoning etc. that perpetuates the pain and anxiety and stops acceptance and healing from occurring is much more beneficial

Yeah I'd like to find one who isn't so agrresive in her manor with me she's makes me so angry I come out from her feeling worse than what I went in , just to let me talk instead of talking over me then saying I need to talk more as I said to her she seems to do enough for both of us , I think everything she's written down about me is wrong right down to my address and didn't even read the papers my doctor gave me to give her , she's not making me better she's making me feel worse about myself so maybe listen more talk less :-)

Hello i have been in and out of therapy since i was 8 im 34 now i have fired many therapists and shrinks . the last one i fired i knew more about her her kid and her b/f than she knew about me . I have had others who i was counseling and others who where just not up to the challenge . One who sticks out the most was the one who had an anxiety attack when i told her about just one little piece of my life .
Honesty is the most important thing you can provide for your client . If your patient feels like they can not trust you well there will never be any progress for your client or yourself . Dont beat around the bush get to the point people come to you for many reasons and sometimes on alot crap that makes paying attention a bit tough . Know the services in your area that your current and future clients may need , its so discouraging when you find out your therapist knows less about your options than you do . Possibly make contacts with other organizations even before you have a client in need of outside services . Think outside the box the book and your teachers havent met your client . your client is an entirely different book than the one you read getting your degree . When you get burnt out get out otherwise your just wasting some sick persons time . You have no idea how many mental health workers are out there just collecting a check doing the necessary paper work for insurance purposes . Let your clients know what exactly you can do for them if they do not allready know . I had no idea what the hell counseling was supposed to do for the first 6-7 years i was in it . The more you expand your knowledge the more you will benefit any client that walks through the door . If you don't know the answer to a question make sure the next time the client walks through the door you have found or tried to find the answer .
Im sure you will be a great therapist just ask all your clients the same question you asked here . Show that you care enough to help so they will be able to open up enough for you to help .

I've only been to one therapist. And lost my insurance before finding a new one. The one I had was an awful experience. It started out okay. But it started to go downhill. One time she got offended because I mentioned that I didn't like living in the area. She would get impatient with me and made me feel like I was wrong to feel the way I was feeling. She would lecture me sometimes. And I have was having an issue with someone...she would interrupt my talking and defend them. My last session with her was the worst. Everything I said she came back with rather negative responses. Not really sure how to explain it...but I don't think I ever felt more judged. I left that session feeling at least 10 times worse about myself than I ever did. I got in the car and just broke into tears. My boyfriend was just like...you are not going back. Honestly, I'm pretty hesitant to try again. I know therapy can work and it's about finding the right one. But since my one experience made me feel so much worse...I struggle with attempting again. and I know I need help.