Choosing a Therapist

Introduction: The following is taken from the Final Report, written by the Independent Commission of Inquiry (ICI) which reported on abuse at the Mamou Alliance Academy.
It is written from a Christian point of view.

Choosing a therapist can be a challenging experience. You may feel more empowered and secure by reviewing the list of questions below, and choosing those that most fit what you want to know about an individual therapist, prior to proposing to the ICI that he/she be you approved therapist.

1. Most therapists will spend from 10-15 minutes on the phone answering some of your questions and discussing your needs. Be prepared to answer some questions yourself about your particular problems. You can initially screen therapists over the phone by asking some of the following questions:
   • What Is the general composition of your client case load by age and gender? Do you do family as well as individual therapy?
   • What is your fee structure? Would you be willing to file a claim with the C&MA for payment?
   • How long have you worked with survivors of abuse? Do you specialize in any area of abuse treatment?
   • How many abuse cases have you treated per year? How many are you currently treating? Have you ever worked with MK's or other persons negatively affected by religious or clergy misconduct? What kind of training do you have in this regard?
   • What techniques do you use in working with survivors? Do you work with both men and women? How do you work with family members or spouses of survivors?
   • Do you have any policy on "recovered memories" of abuse. What techniques, if any, do you use to do so? (Be cautious here - increasingly, good therapists are adopting a conservative stance towards memory issues).
   • What is your policy regarding crisis situations?
   • Would you support my participation in a survivors’ group? Do you have referrals you could make in that regard?
   • Can you provide me with three references in the community that are familiar with the nature and quality of your work?
   • What role do you believe forgiveness plays in the heating process?
2.  After a favorable phone interview, you should make an initial appointment with the therapy and afterwards, reflect on some of the perhaps obvious following points:
   • How did the therapist respond to my questions and expressed needs/goals?
   • How did I feel talking to this person? Did I feel heard and valued? Did I feel believed, cared for and understood?
   • How did this therapist compare to any others I have interviewed?
   • Is this someone to whom I would be comfortable disclosing private and intimate details and painful experiences?
     
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