How to Find a Therapist Who Understands the Filipino/a/x Experience
How to Find a Therapist Who Understands the Filipino/a/x Experience
Written by Ruth Christine Dimagmaliw, LMFT
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Community Engagement Manager, Therapin*y
So you finally have the courage to seek out a therapist after recognizing that there are stressors and situations that you cannot handle on your own.
You spoke to your friends and trusted people in your life about your situation, and feel like it is time to have a mental health professional help you sort out all the things going through your mind. You are fighting the urge to quit your search, despite what your parents say about therapy and you are actively avoiding all your titos and titas with their opinions on mental health. Where do you begin? How do you even get started? Below are some tips and tricks on how you can find the right therapist for you.
1) Start Searching: Go online, ask around, or look for resources at work or school
When you Google “therapists in my area,” most likely therapy directories (like Therapin*y’s) will appear. You are able to filter out therapists by gender, ethnicity, location, specialty, allyships, insurances, and types of services. At first, this can be overwhelming sorting through the many profiles who can potentially meet your needs. My advice is to go with your gut. See who you are interested in and who stands out to you. Ask yourself, “Do I think this person can help me with my situation?”
Another great way to find potential therapists is talking to people you know who are going to therapy. What better way to find a great therapist than to take advice from trustworthy people? Some of your friends might love their therapist so much that they would gladly recommend their therapist to you.
Lastly, you may already have the resources at your fingertips. A lot of schools and universities have counseling clinics on campus that are accessible to students who are enrolled. In addition, many workplaces may have an Employee Assistance Program, also known as EAP, or offer mental health coverage through your health insurance. When seeking these resources, it is important to know the amount of sessions that are covered as this number varies from place to place.
2) Take the Initiative: Email therapists to schedule a phone consultation or an initial appointment
Finding a therapist is like dating. The first therapist you speak or meet with may not be the right match for you. In fact, it might take several conversations with multiple therapists before you find the right person. Though this can be quite the process, don’t be discouraged. If you find that the therapist is not a match for you, tell them! They are there to help and likely the therapists you talk to will have other referrals or information for other providers that will meet your needs.
3) Asking the Right Questions: Tailoring to your needs
When you are sitting through your phone consultation, or even the first appointment you have with a therapist, it is important to ask the right questions that fit your needs. It is also important to know their working experiences that relate to what you need. Here are some questions to ask your therapist and note, this is not an exhaustive list.
What type of issues do you treat?
What are your credentials?
What is your experience like working with someone in my situation?
Do you have any lived experiences that are similar to my situation?
What would be your approach or strategies you can offer to help me?
What do you feel are your strengths as a therapist?
How long will I need to come to therapy?
What are your session fees? Do you take insurance?
4) Build that relationship with your therapist
At the end of the day, you should trust your therapist. You should feel comfortable and aligned when working with your therapist and do not feel you have to settle for anything less. To put it bluntly, if the trust is not there, then therapy will not work. It might take a few sessions or so to truly feel out your relationship with your therapist (remember, it’s like dating). If at any time, you feel that your relationship no longer aligns or is working, let your therapist know. A great therapist will not take it personally and would be willing to get you connected with a provider or resources that fit your needs.
5) Embrace your healing journey
Your healing journey is personal, vulnerable, and beautiful all at the same time. Some days are harder than others, and more often than not, strong feelings like sadness, anger, and anxiety are felt during therapy sessions. I would encourage you to stay with the process and allow yourself to trust you are doing the work. Therapy is a space for your personal growth and you are already courageous for showing up for yourself. Embrace the journey and the person you strive to become.