I was very excited when I was recently asked to be on “The Faith and Mental Wellness Podcast” with Brittney Moses. I had connected with Brittney via social media some time ago and I’ve been an admirer of her work.
Brittney studies Psychology at UCLA and wants to pursue graduate work in clinical psychology. She is active in mental health advocacy through social media and blogs about mental health on her website.
Brittney also hosts “The Faith and Mental Wellness Podcast,” which discusses issues around the topics of mental health, faith and spirituality.
When Brittney approached me about being on her podcast, she said she would like to discuss therapy, as in psychotherapy for mental health issues.
I’ll share the link to the podcast below so you can go and listen to the episode, but I’ll provide a quick preview here of the topics Brittney and I discussed.
First, we talked about the difference between seeing a therapist versus talking with a friend when you have concerns. While both can be helpful, remember that a therapist is a licensed professional who is trained to address your mental health issues.
We then discussed what to expect when you go to therapy. I mentioned several of the common things that take place in therapy. This can range from setting goals to undertaking specific therapeutic interventions to address your needs, which also can include learning various coping skills.
Brittney then asked me what are some important qualities to look for when trying to find a good therapist. I think it’s important to find a therapist who is both highly qualified to meet your needs as well as having the personal qualities such as kindness and compassion that help you feel comfortable working with them.
Next we talked about how to manage the situation if you feel the relationship with the therapist doesn’t seem to be clicking for you. I believe you need to give it a little time but that it is okay to move on if you feel certain the match between you and the therapist isn’t working well.
We continued our conversation by addressing the common fears that the therapist may view you judgmentally or reveal your personal details to others. Therapists are bound by confidentiality to keep your personal information private and they should receive you in an open and accepting manner.
Next, we talked about how difficult it can be to find a good therapist. This is due to several factors, including the cost, therapist availability, and lack of qualified therapists in some areas.
We then went through some tips for how to locate a suitable therapist, taking location, cost, insurance (or lack thereof) availability and related factors into account. We also touched on therapy options for people with limited financial resources.
As we wrapped up our discussion, we talked a little about pros and cons of online therapy as an alternative to in-person therapy. This can sometimes help people access a therapist when they don’t have as many local options for in-person treatment.
When you listen to the podcast, you’ll see that there are lots of points to consider when trying to find a good therapist and what to expect during therapy.
Here’s the link to the podcast on YouTube but you can also find it on iTunes, Spotify and iHeartRADIO. Just search for “The Faith and Mental Wellness Podcast” and look for Episode 23.
I’m very grateful to Brittney for having me on her podcast. I think she’s an outstanding young woman and I admire her mental health advocacy work greatly. In fact, I just included her in my recent post on “13 Great Mental Health Advocates You Should Know.”
Here’s a question: What has been your experience with finding a therapist? Please leave a comment. Also, please subscribe to my blog and feel free to follow me on X (formerly Twitter) or Instagram, “like” my Facebook page, or connect on LinkedIn. Finally, if you enjoyed this post, please share it with a friend.