How to Choose an Anxiety Therapist NZ?
There is no simple answer to this question, because
- every person is unique, and
- every therapist comes with a set of biassed opinions, skills and personality.
So, finding the perfect match can be a little challenging.. But how important is it? This might surprise you. I will explain at the end of this blog.
I have had so many people who love my approach, yet occasionally others might find my approach - or even me - not to their liking.
Sometimes I need to be direct and a little confronting by calling people on their sh*t - most of my clients love this, although initially find it a bit hard. A few have not liked it and would prefer a more indirect approach where someone would validate their experience and simply talk about it for many sessions, rather than provide a solution.
It can be hard to find a therapist who you connect with, BUT more importantly, one who can deliver results. Many can do therapy, but very few seem to offer effective long term solutions.
Questions to Ask When Choosing an Anxiety Therapist in Auckland
- Ask what they believe anxiety is.
- Ask about their success rate.
- Ask about their approach and how its different to others.
- Ask if they have any success stories.
Different Approaches and Modalities in Anxiety Counselling Auckland
There are many different approaches and many modalities to help with anxiety. Often, these approaches are not actually based upon anxiety.
For example, CBT (which is commonly used) is not a technique for anxiety but an approach to therapy and used on many things. Same with ACT and even psychodynamic or NLP/ hypnotherapy.
So when thinking about getting help, keep in mind that these techniques are not for anxiety, they are just what the therapist uses to try and help you.
My approach is a little different, as I decided to focus on Anxiety and ONLY use and keep strategies that WORK for my clients. I have taken ideas from different places, but mainly from what is consistently successful with my clients.
To me, it's not solely about my technique, it’s mainly about the results.
The Benefits and Disadvantages of a Therapeutic Relationship in Anxiety Counselling
I would say, if you get results, then the relationship was helpful.
If your life is getting better, then its helpful.
I also want you to become aware of the trap that many people fall into, which is giving your power away to the therapist / counsellor / helper. If you feel like you need them, this can be a problem.
I love it when my clients go from struggling or just surviving, to thriving or living a more inspired life through our help. They get to the place where they do not need me anymore; they become self sufficient.
A therapeutic relationship should be based upon you making progress in overcoming your anxiety. I have had many clients tell me that they really liked their therapist, but found that they were not making any progress. To me, this is no longer beneficial.
If your life is getting better, then keep doing what you're doing.
So, how important is it?
Earlier, I spoke about how finding the right therapist might not be that important. And by this, I meant it’s not really about you liking the person, or understanding what they do.
YES these things are helpful and can make the process more enjoyable, but what needs to be of most importance is if can they help you get results.
I've had some people not start care with me because they could not understand how working on the spine and Nervous system could help them, and so their lack of understanding stopped them.
This is a shame, because their ignorance about what anxiety truly is got in the way. Maybe they did not like my direct approach and as a result, found someone who was more soft but guided them on a different path.
I have had many clients tell me that their therapist encouraged medication, even when they said they did not want them or need them, just wanted some strategies for change.
Sometimes, what you need is not the same as what you want.
Sometimes a kid needs to eat the food they don’t want (veges), or has to go to bed earlier than they want, or take a medicine they don’t like the taste of.
If you have anxiety, it's not about finding something that's nice and easy - it might be a drive further than you want, or you might have to pay for parking or go into the city.. you might not like these things!!! But do you like Anxiety?
You did not choose anxiety, but you have it!
You can choose who you go to.
Don’t base your decision on what is easiest or what might seem nice.. base it on the likelihood of getting results!
If you go to a therapist who believes you have to learn to live with anxiety (and sadly, with anxiety counselling Auckland, many think this) then you will only get a certain type of outcome.
I have helped so many people who have struggled for decades overcome anxiety. I have seen so many transformations over the years, so I am very confident that I can help most types of anxiety.
Because I work on the body at the level of the Nervous system (which is actually what anxiety is, rather than just talking) through a technique called Network Spinal Analysis (READ MORE), I expect to see amazing results daily, and I do.
I have a high level of certainty and amazing clinical outcomes to match. I have a caring nature and our clinic has nice feel, more like a lounge rather than a stale clinical setting. And our relationship is based upon celebrating the results you are getting, making targets / goals, and hitting them.