Neurodivergence & Finding the Right Therapist
When you begin looking for a therapist it can be hard to tell who would be a good fit for you. Through the Woods Mental Health Services has some tips for you!
When looking for a therapist there are some main things to consider:
Do they specialize in your specific diagnosis or challenges?
Do you feel a connection during your first interaction or feel that you are being heard?
Are they using neurodivergent inclusive language?
Do they offer the location/setting that you prefer?
As you begin looking for a therapist it can feel overwhelming to look through the hundreds of choices. Make it easier on yourself and narrow your search. You want a therapist who specializes in your challenges who can help guide you towards the life you are trying to build. Find someone who you feel is talking to you in their bio. When you are interacting with people you often get a feeling that tells you you are comfortable around that person, comfortable enough to continue talking anyways. In therapy, you want to ensure that your personalities mesh well enough so that you enjoy the work that you are doing with them. Additionally, you want to ensure they are using language and hold beliefs that align with yours. When we’re talking about neurodivergence we often want to look for clinicians who are inclusive and support people in being their authentic self. The mental health field has spent years focused on helping people to blend in and mask their desires but there has been a much needed shift towards acceptance and encouragement towards authenticity. When looking for a therapist pay attention to how you feel about their statements and if you feel encouraged to be truly you. Life can be busy and at Through the Woods we have found that having the option for virtual therapy is often a benefit. We are flexible in offering for the people we work with to switch to virtual for the week or as needed when things come up. This has been handy for our people who overbook themselves or just feel that they can’t drive in that day. When you are looking for a therapist make sure their setting and location is something that you are comfortable with.
