Choosing A Therapist and The Therapeutic Space (Psychotherapy)

 

 

4 Minute Read

 

The decision to undergo professional psychotherapy is often a result of undergoing multiple challenging life issues. At this point, most individuals are in a vulnerable or emotionally overwhelmed space. This is why it remains important to choose the right therapist and to be able to approach the therapeutic space with a bit of background knowledge. This article endeavors to guide you through some significant key points to keep in mind on your journey of healing through psychotherapy. It will specifically look at choosing a therapist and aspects to be mindful about within the therapeutic space.

 

 

 

Let's Start With Choosing A Therapist

 

The steady presence of a therapist is vital. Through emotional and physical presence the therapist is able to provide a holding environment through verbal and non-verbal communication. When choosing your therapist pay attention to the way they interact over the phone. Take some time to search through their website and or other means of professional social media. If you are able to read some testimonials pay close attention to the points that their previous clients emphasize.

 

 

Once In Session

 

It's important to always remember that your mental health should be at the forefront. This means that when you get a feeling of a mismatch with your chosen therapist, even once therapy has started, carefully consider the pros and cons of remaining with or leaving your chosen therapist.

 

A therapist that can respond in new ways that inspire change in old relational patterns is likely to bring about much-needed insights in your journey of mental recovery. This entails attuned responses to content you share, as well as, showing an empathetic understanding of the suffering that is being discussed. At times a therapist may not agree with what is being presented, however, their ability to maintain an affect regulation until constructive feedback can be given in the therapeutic space, increases the ability for you to learn from aspects that aren't conducive to your mental well-being.

 

A therapist that can work with the here-and-now, using the current therapy space to address misunderstandings, allows you to hone in on destructive patterns. Simply, although revising the past is important in therapy, focusing on the dynamic at play allows insight into treating the core issues of interpersonal and intrapersonal behaviour.

 

Although it is important to be challenged in the therapeutic space, it remains just as important to feel validated by your therapist. Feeling threatened, rushed, or uncontained after the release of strong emotions in therapy, may exacerbate mental issues that you may have originally presented to therapy with.

 

A therapist that adopts continuous reflection of your thoughts and feelings is likely to yield more containment in the therapeutic space. This also allows the opportunity for you to pace the therapy and feel contained in the therapeutic environment.

 

 

A Good Enough Holding Environment

 

Psychotherapy is hard work. Many clients have a preconceived notion that psychotherapy is only meant to feel good. Although cathartic release (strong emotions expressed through crying or talking) does often result in relief, psychotherapy can often be a painful experience of acceptance, letting go, growth, and learning about aspects about yourself that are difficult to overcome. A therapist who is able to hold a 'good enough' holding environment assists exponentially during this process, however, it's important to recognise their professional efforts and not hope to turn them into your friend or someone who will not challenge you.

 

Containment plays a vital role in holding a 'good enough' therapeutic environment in therapy:

 

 

 

 

 

In a healing therapeutic space, tools, and techniques given by the therapist become internalized by the client. This means that by the end of therapy the client becomes their own therapist. By this, they develop an awareness of their own patterns and aspects of mental illness and thus are able to self-regulate and find ways of healing themselves through resources in their environment.

 

 

Picture by: Alex Green

 

Centered Consciousness