General How Do I Find A Therapist?

[Al_Lurker]

I'm still struggling with my breakup from a woman that I'm certain has ptsd but is undiagnosed and won't seek treatment. I know that I cannot help her but can't seem to accept that and move on. It is time for me to seek my own healing but I haven't the slightest clue as to how to find a therapist as I've never felt the need for counseling before. How do I begin to find the right person to help me get past this?

 

[Deleted member 24866]

I through trial and error and random selection have been very disappointed. Go online and do a search in your area and find a therapist who specializes in the things you may desire help with. Man, by doing this I have a therapist now that is spectacular and I can't even compare the others to her. Hope that saves you some frustrations down the road, and may your healing journey be blessed.

(I remember the denial that I had for years.. it is such a relief to come to terms, accept and begin to heal.. sending prayers for your X also)

 

[Al_Lurker]

Thank you. My ex will not seek therapy and that us why I must

 

[Deleted member 24866]

For your understanding, its a difficult thing to accept that there are areas of our lives we currently no longer have control of, and usually there is an avoidance of some very frightening and disturbing things. It will (if she is like me) escalate.. and at a point she will probably have to be hospitalized. There are so many stigmas about mental illness.. its a scary time. Is it possible for you to offer friendship and support to this person and keep them in your prayers for awhile..? It took me years of denial before I had to accept it,

 

[Al_Lurker]

I am doing my best to offer my support and friendship but she seems unable to communicate with me so I need to stop trying fur my own health. I cannot sleep, cannot eat and cannot stop thinking of ways to 'win her back'. None of this is helping me or her. I need to trust God and find help for myself and hope that she find her own. That is all that I can control. I am 54 and she is 48, there may not be that many more years to wait. If she is hospitalized her two year old daughter will end up with social services and I can't bear to see that feeling as I do about both of them.

 

[Deleted member 24866]

Not necessarily..

I have never lost my kids from wilful medical attention. Only if the court orders her institutionalized. Simply arrange for care of them prior. But I understand. Counselling will be helpful..

Take care and best wishes

 

[Hashi]

Not everyone is going to end up hospitalised. I think the important thing to think about right now is your own therapy. It's good that you're doing that.

I agree with @4melissa that the best approach is to think about what you're seeking help for, like depression, co-dependency, or whatever things you're most struggling with. Also to think about what type of therapy you think would be helpful - for example talk therapy in a safe, listening space, cognitive behaviour therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy or other options.

If you're unsure how to physically search and locate someone, and make sure they're licensed/registered, you would need to give your general location for people to be able to advise.

Good luck.

 

[R.Quartz]

There is also some good information about how to find the right therapist on Sidran. The site also had a listing of treatment centers, but I can't find it off-hand (not the most intuitive site layout). I would post the link but my post count is too low and it won't let me.

 

[Gingerly]

@Al_Lurker, If you have a full-time job with a large organization, find out if they have an Employee Assistance Program ("EAP"). My employer offers this and I got 8 free sessions with a therapist. I lucked out and found a wonderful therapist through a recommendation from a co-worker.

 

[Al_Lurker]

That's an idea I hadn't thought of....

 

[ellienad]

@Al_Lurker Psychology Today's "therapist finder" is great. You can just search by your city and/or zip code. It will come up with a list of therapists in your area with pictures, bios, links to their website, etc.

This is how I found my therapist and I'm so happy I did! Good luck!