For full disclosure, I’m writing about the clinician-patient relationship with the social experiment show Love is Blind playing on TV. Today, it seems there are too many shows to name about relationship-building: Love is Blind, Married at First Sight, The Bachelor, not to mention dating site after dating site. What people don’t seem to be talking about is the journey to find the right mental health clinician. At this point you may be asking what these two things have in common–well, a lot actually.

Once you make the decision that therapy is right for you, it can be a very vulnerable and overwhelming feeling. Whether you’re someone that has experienced trauma in the past or you find yourself in a situation with new emotions/feelings that are difficult to process on your own, the idea of sharing the things that are the hardest to talk about is a big step. 

Now that you’ve made the decision, the next step is to find the right mental health clinician. This can be challenging if you don’t know the mental health lingo and what different abbreviations behind names mean. Just to name a few that you may see:

1. Psychiatrist – A medical provider who specializes in diagnosing and treating mental health disorders. Trained in the medical model, can prescribe medication.
2. Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) – A nurse practitioner trained to evaluate, diagnose, and treat mental health disorders through evidence-based practice, can prescribe medication.
3. Psychologist – A doctoral-prepared provider that evaluates and diagnoses using interviews and tests. Leads therapy groups or one-on-one sessions, typically cannot prescribe medication (dependent on state and extra training).
4. Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) – A therapist trained to help people work through behavioral disorders, mental illness, or situational stress through counseling and providing resources. 
5. Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) – A therapist/ licensed counselor that helps people manage emotional, psychological, and behavioral challenges through talk therapy, enhanced coping skills, along with other therapeutic approaches. 

The aforementioned are but a few of the more common letter combinations you may find when googling your area for mental health professionals. There are many other combinations that specify the degree someone holds or the type of license received from their state board. When in doubt, just ask! Most people are happy to explain their training as well as the values that drive their practice. Some therapists may be more spiritual in their practice, and some may focus more on mindfulness or meditation. Still, others may be more structured in their practice with worksheets or assignments. 

So, you’ve done your online search, you’ve asked friends, and you’ve chosen a clinician who you’re confident will show you “the way.” However, you leave your first visit knowing deep down that this is not a good match for you. What now? Well, as the saying goes, you get back on the horse. You may find the perfect match in the first round, but it’s possible you may not, and that’s OK—keep looking. The right person is out there, and it’s alright to be a little picky. In order to do the work that is needed, you have to have a strong therapeutic relationship with someone. A therapeutic relationship means building a relationship on the foundations of mutual respect, trust, shared-decision making, and agreeing to be engaged in the treatment process or, in other words, doing the work. 

Making the decision and taking the first step to improve your mental health can be overwhelming at times, but just remember it’s worth the search and work to find the right team for you. 

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