Introduction
The question of how to find a good therapist is one that many people ask. The good news is that there are some factors that are helpful in predicting whether or not you will have a positive experience in therapy. But, like most things in life, it's not as simple as looking for a therapist who fits into some predetermined category. In this article, we will discuss what makes good therapy.
Understand Why Therapy Works
It's important to understand why therapy works and what makes a strong therapeutic relationship.
Therapy works because the therapist is a good listener and provides a safe space for you to talk about your problems. The therapist also helps you understand yourself better. This can lead to changes in your thinking, feelings and behavior. This can make it easier for you to solve problems that were difficult before therapy began.
A strong therapeutic relationship develops when both the client (you) and the therapist are committed to collaborating to achieve positive outcomes. Over time they work together as partners with mutual respect for each other's ideas and contributions. The work together toward resolving issues that have been troubling them in their lives or relationships with others
Good therapy is backed by research and is grounded in evidence-based practice.
Good therapy is backed by research and is grounded in evidence-based practice.
Therapists should be trained in evidence-based practice.
Therapists should know how to use evidence-based practices (and engage in continuing education).
Different people need different styles of therapy, so good therapists will tailor their approach to the client.
The best therapists will be knowledgeable about the kinds of techniques that are likely to work for the person sitting across from them. Good therapists know that no one approach will work for every client. One size does not fit all.
Good therapists strive to be flexible and open-minded, willing to try different approaches according to their clients needs. Therapists should also be aware of cultural differences between themselves and their clients. If someone comes in with a certain worldview or belief system, whether it's religious or political, a therapist who is sensitive will take this into account when building rapport with him or her before starting therapy sessions.
A good therapeutic relationship is based on empathy, the working alliance, and the therapeutic bond.
Empathy
The ability to put yourself in another person’s shoes, combined with an emotional response that acknowledges the other person’s feelings and thoughts. If you can imagine what it would feel like if you were in their situation, you have empathy.
The Working Alliance
This refers to the relationship between client and therapist as they work together toward a common goal of healing. This includes factors such as mutual respect, trust, and shared goals for treatment. A good working alliance indicates greater likelihood of positive results from therapy (which is why therapists often spend some time at the beginning of sessions building rapport).
The Therapeutic Bond
The strength of your attachment or connection with your therapist can impact your ability to benefit from his or her help; therefore, it's important that both parties work toward creating this bond during sessions.
Most of the improvement in good therapy comes from the therapeutic relationship, not the specific technique used by the therapist.
The therapeutic relationship is the heart of good therapy. The therapist’s ability to empathise and understand the client, along with their ability to help the client feel understood and accepted, are integral components that help facilitate change.
The most important thing is for a therapy client to feel safe talking about sensitive issues in an environment where they are not judged. This comes from a sense of trust between therapist and client which can only be developed over time through consistent communication.
The best predictor of positive outcomes in therapy is finding a therapist who suits you.
One of the best predictors of positive outcomes in therapy is finding a therapist who suits you.
A good working alliance, a bond between client and therapist. allows them to communicate effectively and work together toward their goals. The therapeutic relationship is the most important factor in good therapy, and accounts for up to 75% of variance in treatment success.
Other factors like client motivation, expectations about therapy, or other individual characteristics account for about 5% of what influences outcomes in therapy.
Conclusion
While many therapists talk about evidence-base practice they fail to acknowledge the importance of the therapeutic relationship as the primary predictor of outcome in therapy. Instead, many focus on technique which is actually a poor predictor of outcome, when compared to the influence of the therapeutic rapport.
A positive therapeutic relationship provides empathy and compassion, trust, and a safe space for you to feel comfortable sharing your experiences and thoughts. Good therapy also ensures both parties have similar goals for therapy and therapy is tailored to you and your needs.
So, when you look for a therapist find one who provides a safe environment where you feel respected, safe and understood. It is under these therapy conditions you can build an effective working alliance to achieve outcomes in therapy.
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(c) 2023 Dean Harrison