Needing some support?

[long road]

When I was looking for a therapist last year I used contact form for some and emails for the rest. Started with my first choice therapist and when they didn't have appointments contacted second and third choice. And second choice worked out.

So yes totally ok to use form. Personally found messaging / emailing first to find who has availability less stressful and then have call only with ones who are available.

Would say on form / email you are looking for a therapist and ask if they have avaliability. Mention you would be paying via insurance, with pre aithouristaion for 20 sessions. And then any access needs for instance I needed either step free access or online/ video appointment s.

With regards to choosing most therapists will offer a short phone call or intro session to check you feel like you could work together. If you look them up on something like BACP or UKCP registers they have keywords on their profile of what they deal with that can give a clearer idea than a paragraph of text.

Do you have any priority for what you want with therapist? For me I preferred a female and wanted someone who understood / specialised in trauma and dissociation.

[nonperson]

Thank you, both.

Jen, that is very helpful to know the process you went through. I do feel like emailing or using the contact form would be easier to explain things.

I will check those registers you mentioned too and maybe fire off a couple of enquiries tomorrow.

I don't really know what sort of therapist I'm looking for. I dismissed the one male option as I thought he looked far too young (shouldn't judge on appearances, I know...) but my one favourite so far is based in a yoga studio. My second choice seems more comprehensive but seems less personable.

[one_step_closer]

It must be really hard to make that decision, I've always had NHS therapists so was just given whoever was available. I will say that pretty much all of the therapists I have been assigned I was able to form a good relationship with so hopefully you will too whoever you choose.

[nonperson]

Yoga studio therapist wasn't taking on new people so I emailed my second choice who got back to me the next day and I now have an appointment for an assessment on Monday.

Bricking it a little bit (super anxious heart palpitations) but the admin guy in emails was super friendly and reassuring (and gave excellent info for parking options) and used lots of emojis so that is helpful as the place is a much more professional (scary) looking set up than my first choice.

[Cacoethes]

Wishing you all the luck that this therapist is a perfect fit for you!
I get the anxiety, but the worst that can happen is you don't get on with them and it's back to the drawing board.

[long road]

Well down for contacting your second choice when first choice said no.

Good luck for Monday, I hope that you gel well with them but if you don't as Beckie says you can always change therapists.

[one_step_closer]

I hope everything goes well. I can understand your anxiety, it's a situation with lots of new and unknown things going on. You can do it!

[nonperson]

Thanks. We got on well and the whole place is covered in houseplants!

I think it went ok. No tears. Lots to process. I scored quite highly on the trauma quiz which is surprising and that's the only time I started to tear up when she was talking about trauma because it guess that sounds like a quite serious word and I didn't think it really applied to me. EMDR was suggested too.

[one_step_closer]

I'm glad it went well and that the environment was a good one suited to you. I'm so proud of you for going and starting to face up to things more. Trauma is a serious thing and I understand that it might be quick shocking to have that word related to you even though you probably deep down already knew that you have been through traumatic things. It's hard when other people acknowledge things sometimes. It sounds like the therapist has some ideas of where to go from here and that's positive. Look after yourself and try and use safe methods of coping with whatever might come up, keep posting here if it helps. Do you have another appointment arranged?

[nonperson]

Thanks Lindsay.

I'm not sure that I have been through traumatic things necessarily? Or not what I would call trauma.

Yep got another appointment Wednesday next week which I panic booked and now have realised that I also have a dentist appointment just before it so that will be a fun afternoon/evening...!

[one_step_closer]

The definition of trauma is quite flexible, so maybe the therapist is looking at some of the things you've been through and how they have affected you and labelling that response as a trauma response. Do you think you might be able to say to the therapist that you don't see the things you've been through as being trauma?

Oh no about the dentist appointment on the same day! Are you getting something done or just a check up? Can you rearrange the dentist if you think it would be best?