I’ve said it before and let me say it again: Your therapist needs to feel right to you.
If you don’t feel safe, heard, and validated, that’s a red flag.
While credentials and experience have their place, at the end of the day, the most important thing is how comfortable, safe, and understood you feel with the therapist.
Many therapists offer a phone consultation. Take them up on that!
Additionally, speak with more than one therapist. It’s worth doing this due diligence to ensure you are finding the best fit for you!
Your therapist should discuss several types of approaches they could use after they listen to your presenting problems and concerns.
Additionally, they should offer several skills and tools that may be beneficial in working with your presenting concern– and only one of those tools should be EMDR therapy.
If the therapist sees all problems through the lens of a singular approach- that could be a red flag! The old adage may apply: “If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.”
You might also want to ask the therapist if they combine various approaches together to accomplish your treatment goals.
EMDR therapy does not have to be a stand-alone treatment. Combining various therapies together to focus on your unique situation may be ideal.
Ask the therapist if they are trained in an EMDRIA-approved training course. EMDRIA is the governing body that creates the standards of practice and certifications for all EMDR practitioners.
This means that only therapists that have taken an EMDRIA ApprovedTraining Course are considered fully trained in EMDR.
You can find an EMDR therapist directory here.
It is an up-to-date resource to find fully trained EMDR Therapists who use EMDR as a part of their clinical practice.
Please note: The directory isn’t specific to Indianapolis- it spans the entire US & Canada.
Also, if you are looking for a specific therapist, you can search by name and other criteria.
I like to set expectations from the outset: You will not start the eye movement phase immediately!
To learn more about the timeline, read another article I wrote about EMDR here.
Are you in Indianapolis and ready to give EMDR therapy a go?
Free free to contact me directly if you have questions or to schedule a brief call to see if I might be able to support you as you journey forward.
Jill
As a marriage and family therapist, I also offer:
Relationship Counseling
Individual Counseling