Using a Psychotherapy Consultant to Find the Right Therapy

The decision to enter therapy is a big one, requiring an investment of time, psychological energy, and financial resources. A psychotherapy consultant can help you find the right therapy for your particular situation.

When beginning to consider psychotherapy, if you are like most people, you are likely to be only vaguely familiar with the many options available and uncertain which ones may be appropriate for you. Psychotherapy directories provide descriptions of a huge array of therapists and the varying treatments that they offer, but it can be challenging to figure out what will be a good therapy fit for you. This is where enlisting the assistance of a psychotherapy consultant can be helpful.

What to Expect from the Therapy Consultant

To find the best therapy fit, the psychotherapy consultation will begin with a detailed exploration of current issues that are leading you to seek therapy, and the impact that these issues are having on your life. It will take account of your past psychotherapy experiences (what has worked and what hasn’t), and any supports that you are currently using to address your issues.

An expert psychotherapy consultant will be familiar with various treatment modalities, including one-on-one therapy, couples counseling, group therapy, and family treatment. The consultant will explain how therapy works and will be well versed in various therapeutic approaches that may be the right fit for you. This will help you decide between psychodynamic/interpersonal therapy, internal family systems (IFS), or various kinds of behavioral interventions including cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), dialectic behavior therapy (DBT), and EMDR.

These options vary considerably in terms of amount of direction provided by the therapist, level of therapist activity and therapist transparency, and the consultant will be considering these aspects, as well, in coming up with a recommendation for therapy that will be best for you.

Adjunctive Treatments that May also be Addressed

Add-ons treatments will also be considered that may be useful for increasing the effectiveness of your particular therapy. This might include goal-focused outpatient or residential treatment programs, and biochemical treatments including psychopharmacological adjuncts, brain stimulation (TMS), and psychedelic-assisted therapy.

An effective therapy consultation can also help family members find the right therapy by understanding the options available for helping a troubled loved-one, whether a substance abusing family member, a grown child who needs help launching, or a disabled partner or parent.

After a collaborative decision is made about the best therapy fit for you, the therapy consultant should also be able to make specific therapy referrals or at least to narrow down the list of appropriate resources for finding the right therapy.

Common Questions about a Therapy Consultation

What kind of expertise should a psychotherapy consultant have?

The psychotherapy consultant should have years of experience with the particular issues that are bringing you to look for help. An added indication of expertise is the consultant’s experience teaching and writing about psychotherapy and supervising the work of other clinicians.

What is the duration of a consultation?

Generally, a psychotherapy consultation will take two to three sessions. These sessions may occur in close proximity or spread over a few weekly sessions.

Will the psychotherapy consultation help me evaluate my current therapy and whether that therapy is the best fit for me?

Yes, the therapy consultant can help you review the therapy you are currently in and can provide feedback about it to you (and if you wish) to your therapist as well.

Will the therapy consultant contact therapists I have seen in the past or any current therapists?

With your permission, contact will be made if either you or the consultant believes that added perspective may be useful in finding the right therapy for you.

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