How to Choose a Therapist
For the Korean adoptee community.
October 27, 2022
If you have been struggling with mental health, you are not alone. In 2021, the rate of reported mental health issues in the United States ranged from 22.9 percent in states like Wisconsin, to 36.2 percent in Kentucky. The good news is that mental health awareness has increased. Access to therapists through telehealth services has made finding, and seeing a therapist easier. If you decide to seek out professional therapy, kudos to you for taking a step towards better mental health.
The key to successful therapy is to find the right therapist for you. This can require patience while trying out multiple therapists to find the right one. For example, one 30 year old woman living in New York City that I spoke with had initial sessions with four therapists before choosing one that she felt comfortable with. Another 35 year old woman in San Francisco tried a telehealth service. She tried six therapists before finding the right one.
When choosing a therapist, one place to start is by finding a professional who has been trained to at least the master’s degree level, and who may also be licensed to provide therapy. There are different levels of credentialing, which allow the professional to practice therapy at different levels. Therapists can have a variety of different letters behind their name.
A psychiatrist (MD) is a medical doctor who has gone through medical school. They can prescribe medication, and oftentimes works with a psychologist or another therapist to deliver cognitive therapy.
A psychologist (PhD, PhD, PsyD, EdD) has completed a PhD, making them a doctor, but not a medical doctor. This means that they are not allowed to prescribe medicine. Their training has given them clinical experience and oftentimes they have a specific research focus. They can diagnose and provide counseling.
There are also psychologists (MA, MS, LGPC, LCPC) that have not done a PhD, but have completed a master’s degree. They are also called psychologists, but are not doctors and cannot prescribe medication. They can diagnose and offer counseling services. Their areas of specialty may range from life experiences such as abuse and trauma, to conditions such as obsessive compulsive disorder or bipolar disorder.
Social workers (MSW, LGSW, LCSW, LMSW, LCSW-C, LISW, LSW) have completed a master’s degree in clinical social work. Those with a license have a L behind their name and have passed a state board exam. They cannot prescribe medication, and similar to master’s degree level psychologists, they may offer counseling services for specific reasons such as divorce, self-esteem, or sexuality.
Marriage and family therapists (MA, MFT, LMFT, LCMFT) have completed a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy. They may or may not have licensure. They cannot prescribe medicine, but can offer counseling services.
Ensuring that the therapist that you will be sharing personal feelings and details of your life with is a professional who has gone through professional training, and has completed the appropriate education is important. A 26 year old woman in Los Angeles that I spoke with had decided to try a lifecoach, who wasn’t licensed or credentialed. She described her experience as, “someone who wasn’t professional, but was nice to talk to”. The young woman didn’t feel like she was equipped to offer advice, or take her through the emotional trauma that came up in her sessions. She later found out that the lifecoach betrayed trust and told her religious community what they discussed in her session.
Making sure that you feel safe, seen, and heard is also important to ensure that the therapy experience is worthwhile. Feelings like being judged, or not understood during a session is an indication that it may be better to cut losses and try a different therapist.
A 27 year old woman in Atlanta told me that when she told the marriage and family therapist she was seeing about a relationship issue, she felt judged. She said that the therapist blamed her for not being more assertive. She left the session regretting that she had shared the experience. It may be helpful to try to bring up the way you are feeling to the therapist; however, remembering that therapy is about the issues that you want to work through and not just on the therapist — patient relationship is important.
Deciding if you want to talk to a female or male therapist can also be an important decision. One 39 year old woman that I talked with in New York City said that she had tried a male therapist who was just a few years older than her. She later found out that they had a mutual friend, and that he had talked about her in a sexual way to his roommate. She felt violated and immediately decided to seek out a female therapist.
Therapists are people, too and are therefore not perfect. However, HIPAA or patient privacy violations are not excusable. If your therapist is licensed, these violations can be reported to your state or local licensing board. Therapy takes a lot of personal investment emotionally and financially. Talking to one that is not a good fit can do more damage than good. The right therapist will listen, can help you grow, and will equip you with tools to navigate what you are going through. If you decide to pursue therapy, well done for taking control of your mental health.
In good health. MT
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