How to choose A THERAPIST

We reveal the ways you can advocate for your mental health

- AMBER BRAMBLE

There are lots of good reasons to have therapy, but it can be a process that takes a lot of trust. For that reason, it’s important to make sure you’re getting good support.

Dr Paul Conti is a leading psychiatrist and trauma expert, whose work has earned him fans such as Lady Gaga and Kim Kardashian. Whether you’re seeing a psychiatrist, psychologist, counsellor or other licensed mental health professional, he says it’s crucial to make sure you find the right person. Here, Dr Conti shares his tips on how to choose a good therapist...

I believe mental healthcare, like so much else in society, has trended toward simplistic solutions for complicated problems. Unfortunately, it means people often place hope in proposed solutions that turn out to be little more than window dressing. Psychotherapy can offer rich and rewarding change, but only when it’s done thoughtfully. The best therapy involves rapport, trust and time, and popular short-term solutions are often just one more way to kick the can down the road for the patient to deal with later.