Finding the right therapist can be a difficult task, but it’s an important one. Studies show that the therapeutic relationship is a major predictor of therapy success, even outweighing the clinical techniques used. At Rooted Counselling and Wellness, we have a variety of therapists. who specialize in all sorts of conditions and experiences, and we are here to help you find the support that feels right for you.
4 Questions to Consider Before Picking a Therapist:
Before you start your search for a therapist in Utah, it’s helpful to know what your needs are.
1. What Are Your Symptoms?
What challenges are you experiencing that you’re hoping a therapist can support you with? How are these challenges impacting your life and daily functioning at work, school, or in relationships?
Depending on your symptoms (depression, anxiety, navigating trauma, betrayal trauma, panic attacks, PTSD), you may want to look for a therapist who is highly trained and specialized, which will help narrow your search. These specific issues, such as trauma, addiction, neurodivergence, negative family dynamics and experiences, psychotic disorders, personality disorders, or even severe mood disorders, can be more suited to someone who has more experience in those areas.
2. What Are Your Goals?
Are you looking to manage your symptoms or to learn skills for better coping, communication, parenting, or socializing? You might also want to heal from the trauma of the past, let go of painful memories, or heal your relationship with yourself. Whatever your goals, it’s helpful to have an idea of what you want to get out of therapy.
3. What Location and Schedule Works Best for You?
Consider your availability and scheduling needs. Are you looking to meet in person or virtually? Will you need to rely on public transportation, or do you have specific hours you can meet? This information will help you filter by city or availability to narrow your search.
4. What Type of Therapy Are You Looking For?
Do you want individual therapy, or are you looking to address issues in a relationship with couples therapy or improve family dynamics through family therapy? There are also many group therapy options that might be better suited if you want to learn skills or process feelings in a group dynamic.
Not sure if you’re ready? Check out our blog post that helps you see if you’re ready for therapy.
Taking a Deeper Look at Therapy Qualifications & Requirements in Utah When Searching for a Therapist in Utah
When looking for a therapist, it’s helpful to have a basic understanding of the credentials and education. While all licensed therapists should be able to meet many mental health needs, different educational backgrounds offer different benefits and focuses.
Understanding Utah Therapist Licensure Types
Independent Licensure
- Someone who is fully licensed has completed schooling and all state licensure requirements, often including extensive supervised hours and passing licensure exams. These clinicians are licensed through DOPL and must meet continuing education requirements to maintain their licensure.
- Pros and Cons: More experience, often have more training and specialties. Can be more expensive or harder to fit into their schedules.
Associate Licensure
- Someone who has completed schooling and is working under a fully licensed supervisor, getting supervised clinical hours towards independent licensure. These clinicians are licensed through DOPL and must meet supervision and continuing education requirements to maintain their licensure.
- Pros and Cons: Less expensive than fully licensed, and are being supervised by more experienced clinicians. They have less experience and may not be as specialized.
Intern (no licensure)
- Someone who is in the last portion of their schooling, who is working under a fully licensed supervisor, getting supervised clinical hours towards their degree program. These clinicians are not licensed through DOPL.
- Pros and Cons: Very accessible both in availability and financially, and have a lot of clinical support. We discuss additional benefits in our blog. They have less experience and may not be equipped for complex cases.
Educational Background
Social Worker – MSW, CSW, LCSW
Have a master’s degree in social work. Their education emphasizes understanding the social environment and systems that impact individual mental health.
Marriage and Family Therapist – MFT, LAMFT, LMFT
Have a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy. Their education focuses on relationship dynamics in couples and families.
Mental Health Counselors – MA-CMHC or MS-CMHC, CMHC, ACMHC.
Have a master’s degree in art or science in clinical mental health counseling. Their education is focused on generalist mental health counseling.
Psychologists – PhD or PsyD, CPR, LP
Doctorate degree in philosophy or psychology. Often with a clinical emphasis on psychological assessments, or an educational background in research.
Psychiatrist – MD or DO
Completed medical school and a psychiatry residency. Often don’t provide therapy and are seen primarily for medication management.
Understanding Expertise and Specialties at Rooted Counseling & Wellness
At Rooted, we ensure our team has additional training in their specific areas of treatment. Our goal is to go above and beyond in providing quality holistic treatment for our clients. Our therapists specialize in specific areas of interest, populations, or treatment modalities, and we do our best to make this as clear as possible on our website.
Here are a few things our therapists can support you with:
- Trauma
- Perinatal Health
- Anxiety and OCD
- Art or Music Therapy
- Sex Therapy
- Men or Women’s Health
- ADHD/Autism
- Age – Children, Adolescents, or Aging Adults
- Domestic Violence
- Addiction/Substance Use
- LGBTQ+
- Faith Transitions
How to Pick the Right Therapist for You?
Once you’ve narrowed down your search, here are a few more things to do as you make your pick.
- Verify they are covered by insurance or are at a rate you can afford.
- Verify their license through DOPL (Interns won’t have a license).
- Read through a few pages of their website, then contact them or their intake team for more information.
- Ask for a consultation. Many clinicians offer a free 10-minute call to see if they are a good fit for you.
Remember That Therapy is a Journey, and Your Healing is Worth It
Once you find someone and go to the intake, remember:
It may take a few appointments – give it a try for at least 3-4 appointments.
It takes time to build trust and rapport, and you may not be sure right away if your therapist is a good fit. The intake appointment is really the getting-started appointment, so you want to have a few sessions with a new therapist to really see how well you fit.
Advocate for your needs.
It’s okay if you don’t feel like it’s a good fit. Whether it’s the first appointment or much later, talk to your therapist. Most are understanding and happy to help you find another therapist who can better support you. We also have many different therapists on our team, so if one person isn’t quite the right fit, we have other options available.
Don’t lose faith.
It can take time and be a frustrating process to find someone, but it’s worth it!
It looks like you are really searching for a therapist, and we can help. Our client care coordinator team is happy to answer any questions. You can learn more about our team, their specialties, availability, and how insurance works. If you have any questions, please let us know by calling 801-508-4150 or by getting started here.