Red flags when looking for a Therapist

Here are the Red flags for a therapist, it is our personal and professional opinion.

Training: In my opinion a therapist who has not engaged in continuous professional development is problematic. The field is changing and growing all the time at exponential degrees. A therapist who has not trained continuously may mean, 1. They may have become burnt out in their training period. I have heard some colleagues report, and PhD graduates report, they never wanted to hear about their thesis topics ever again. However, therapists need to regularly upskill to protect their practice and to give back to our clients. Continuous learning is a testament of love to what we do and how we do it, and we need to be fully engaged, as active engagement is synonymous with caring. 2. They are more concerned with filling their time slots than they are actively with your care.

Scheduling

Scheduling: In my opinion, a therapist needs to be flexible. I have had my own experiences being in therapy, and as the therapeutic relationship has an inherent power differential, it is important this dynamic is neutralized with flexibility, humility, and an egalitarian approach so you can feel totally at ease with your sacred information. I have had supervisors and therapists cut it exactly 50 minutes. God forbid some past supervisors show up ten minutes late and leave ten minutes early, charging a whopping $225 for the 50 minutes. This was an awful experience, as I felt I was holding and closing my own sensitive material. Frankly, I have no idea how clinicians slot 5 to 8 clients a day exactly 50 minutes apart with 10 minutes to write their notes. In my opinion, rigidly prioritizing back-to-back schedules can sometimes risk compromising client-centered care. A therapist needs to be flexible. If a therapist is rigid and more concerned with their routine, I suggest looking elsewhere for care.

Lee Park, RCT 25-002, MACP, BPsych Hons

Owner, Canada Online Therapy

www.canadaonlinetherapy.com

[email protected]

canadaonlinetherapy.janeapp.com

Call/text: (514) 746 4673

Fax: (800) 808 6629