My Experience Living with Anxiety

As I have already mentioned, I know this blog is like two seconds old, and I’ve already said it, I LOVE MY THERAPIST!! She is so understanding, and such a good listener, and she cares about you as a person not just an account. But, I have to say, that it took me a little while to find a therapist that I liked. So I wrote this guide about how to pick a good anxiety therapist and I hope you use it.

First, you should get a recommendation. This can be tough if you are just seeking treatment and don’t know where to begin. But, if you are a university student you can go to the Student Services section and see a school counselor and they are sure to know somebody with a good reputation. Another option is to look online. There are lots of good resources nowadays for finding a therapist. I have heard good things about Network Therapy so check them out if you get stuck.

Next you should find out what area of therapy they specialize in. Obviously you are going to want to have someone who knows how to treat an anxiety disorder and usually they are trained in cognitive behavioral therapy which is a good thing because that means they understand how your thinking can power your anxiety disorder.

Your next step is to make an appointment to go in and see if you get a good vibe. This is really important because if the person seems hard to talk to or if they seem like they are distracted a lot you might not be able to really open up to them. Remember that therapy is based in trust. If you don’t feel like you can be totally honest with your therapist then you are not seeing the right person.

If you go to an appointment and things seem okay then ask yourself a few questions. Does their personality seem like a good match to yours? I know that I went to a therapist (who specialized in anxiety too) that just made me really anxious and uncomfortable. He had a real dry and nerdy kind of personality and I am real spontaneous and full of life. It just wasn’t a good fit. Also does he or she have more to offer than just textbook anti-anxiety therapies? For instance my therapist believes in treating the whole body so she’s very spiritual as well. She talks a lot about eastern philosophies and is always opening my mind up about my energy and how to harness it. She also does a lot of workshops where meditation is used and practiced. She talks about the mind, spirit and body and making them all work to treat your anxiety. She’s not a one trick pony. That’s why I love her so!

Also, remember that your therapist needs to be available. If they are a good therapist for anxiety then they understand that they will probably have to talk to you on the phone a few times a week when you are having struggles. So, if they can reached is pretty important. If you can try to get their cell number so you can call anytime because that is very important.

Well, that’s pretty much it. If you follow this advice about how to pick a good anxiety therapist you will not be disappointed!