Choosing a therapist

Complementary therapies are becoming very popular, and the range of therapies – and therapists – on offer can seem vast. So how do you even start choosing a therapist?

The provision of most therapies is unregulated by law, or (like hypnotherapy) only subject to voluntary regulation. This makes it difficult to sort out those who are reliable and well-trained from those who aren’t. So here’s my guide to picking the right person to help you.

Tips to help to choose the right therapist for you

Don’t just pick the nearest person or the first one you come across. To be sure you choose the right therapist, invest a bit of time in research.

Begin by thinking about anything practical that might affect your choice. For example, do you have any preferences about seeing a male or female therapist? Can you attend evening, daytime or weekend appointments? Do you have transport or do you need someone on a good bus route?

Personal recommendation is a good way to choose a therapist, so ask around. You might be surprised how many people you know have used a complementary therapist already.

If this doesn’t help, you could try asking your GP or their practice nurse: sometimes they will make a recommendation. However, most NHS staff are not trained in complementary therapies. They are most likely to refer you to the CNHC website. This is the voluntary regulator for several different therapies, and only registers therapists with high standards in training and practice.

Otherwise, you can look online, as most therapists have websites. See which sites appeal to you. Is the therapist open and honest about their experience and qualifications, and are they knowledgeable about their therapy? Do they give you the information you need, or the opportunity to find out more?

It’s scary that, in my 20-odd years of practice, only a few people have asked to see my insurance or qualifications. I’m proud of my training and happy to show them on request. When you speak to a therapist for the first time, ask about their training, insurance and professional memberships.

Despite the lack of compulsory regulation, the larger therapies at least have dedicated professional associations. I would always see a therapist who belongs to one or more of these groups. They work hard to encourage high standards of training, and enforce a code of ethics. They also offer a complaints procedure if (rarely) you need one. It’s not a legal requirement for complementary therapists to belong to one of these bodies. So if they do invest money in membership you know they take their business seriously.

Ask if there is regulation for the therapy you’re thinking of using and whether the practitioner works within it. (In case you are wondering, I work within the voluntary regs for hypnotherapy).

If your therapist has letters after their name, ask what they mean. Most therapists have private qualifications issued by therapy training bodies. There’s nothing wrong with these, of course, but it’s best to understand the training and experience your therapist has.

Explain why you are considering therapy, and mention any medication you take or health concerns you have, even if they’re unconnected with what you want to address. This allows the therapist to check that they can help you in the way you want them to. Some therapists (including myself) offer free discovery sessions to allow you to go into this in more detail. Check prices, and how many sessions you should expect to have, although it’s often tricky for therapists to be exact about session numbers since every client is different.

It’s good to chat for a while to make sure you are comfortable with the person you have chosen. Your relationship with them counts for a lot, especially if you are going to be talking about personal areas such as your health or emotional issues.

Take your time, do your homework and you will find the right therapist to help you. And if you want more advice please feel free to contact me, without obligation.