Finding the right therapist after you’ve been in a serious accident is almost as important as finding the right personal injury attorney to represent you in a personal injury case. The reality is, if you or someone you love has been in a serious accident, you will go through a grieving process over your loss of a normal life. To help speed up your recovery or accept your new circumstances, the right therapist could make a huge impact when it comes to your overall quality of life and peace of mind. If you’re wondering how to find the right therapist after being the victim of a serious accident, read on for three ways to find and know you’ve found a great match.
1. Doing Your Research
Personal injuries, medical malpractice, or being a victim in a bad crash is a serious thing. If this has happened to you, you probably did substantial research before hiring the best personal injury attorney for you. Therapy and personal injury claims work hand in hand. The reality is that compensation from a personal injury claim could fund your therapy treatments. Just like your attorney-client relationship with your personal injury lawyer in New Orleans or whatever city you’re from is important to you, it’s paramount that you have a great relationship with the therapist you choose to help you in recovery.
The counselor you decide to work with will not only help you with your overall mental health throughout this challenging time but can also give you tools to improve your self-esteem and manage symptoms of depression or anxiety.
Before choosing a therapist to work with you around issues related to your serious injuries, you’ll want to do some research on how many years of experience they have and what their therapy background is. That is, no two therapists work exactly the same. Where one psychotherapist might concentrate on your emotions and feelings surrounding your accident, another might be more future-focused and place an emphasis on goals and dreams. Knowing what you’re looking for will put you in a better position to find a clinician you’ll mesh best with.
2. Finding a Great Match
To find the right psychologist for you, start by looking for therapists in your area. A Google search for ‘New York therapists‘ will turn up a list of therapists who can meet with you online or in person. When considering what therapist to work with, decide ahead of time whether you prefer telehealth therapy visits or are looking for face-to-face sessions. While both are successful in helping with mental health issues, different people prefer different methods. Knowing what you’re looking for ahead of time will help you find a better fit.
Before calling a therapist that you find online, do what you can to research their background. Read online reviews from other clients and visit websites with therapist bios. This will help you decide if a therapist feels right to you.
3. Building a Therapeutic Alliance
Regardless of how much online research you do, the only real way to know if a therapist is a good match for you is to have a few sessions. It’s important to be honest with your therapist if you’re having doubts about them. Being transparent about your feelings, even around the therapeutic relationship, is a great way to communicate your wants and needs as a client. Potential therapists understand the importance of a good working relationship. If you don’t feel like your therapist is a good match for you, it’s okay to ask for a referral and to be candid about it. Odds are that your current therapist will understand and be happy to point you in another direction that might be a better fit.
No matter how serious your injury is and whether you get a favorable verdict in your catastrophic injury case, having the right professional therapist on your side will make a big difference in your overall state of mind after a serious accident. Even if you aren’t sure you’ll need the help of a clinical psychologist to make it through your recovery or this life transition, it might be worth giving a therapist a call to schedule the first session to at least try it out. You might be surprised how much easier things seem when you have someone on your side every step of the way.