Thread by @hlgriffin

@matttebbe I'm not a clinician, but I collaborate with enough therapists & read enough clinical literature to usually get within the ballpark for referrals.

If I know a community well, I'm usually asking friends who are therapists & have good judgment about who they recommend.

@matttebbe If I don't have a network that I can tap, I do a google search based on the type of therapy I am looking for and the location, then I read the descriptions.

@matttebbe What kind of therapy I am looking for depends on my judgement as a reasonably well informed layperson. I do have some favorite go-to therapies: Internal Family Systems, EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, Emotionally Focused Therapy.

@matttebbe I look for an attachment and trauma-informed theoretical orientation. I'm also down with old-school psychodynamic therapists if they are skilled.

Most importantly, I look for therapists who are feedback responsive, which they may not list on their site or profile.

@matttebbe Obviously, I'm also looking for preferred gender, religion, & race as well, depending on the needs of the person.

I tell people to pick their top three options & send an email or leave a message on their voicemail.

@matttebbe So many skilled therapists are booked these days that they are likely to get put on a waiting list. Always sign up for the waiting list option even if you don't end up needing it later.

@matttebbe Most therapists do a fifteen to twenty-minute free phone call for prospective clients. I usually sit down with people and help them identify their needs and goals. If the therapist doesn't think they are a good fit, I ask for recommendations of therapists who might fit.

@matttebbe For feedback responsiveness, a good question to ask is "Do you check in with your clients regularly to get feedback? What are some examples of feedback your clients have given you? How did you adjust in response?"

@matttebbe Feedback responsiveness is going to be a better predictor of therapist competence than therapy modality but I do think therapeutic modalities matter. If nothing else, they indicate that the therapist has continued to invest in expanding their toolbox.

@matttebbe If you are looking for a specific therapeutic modality, it's important to ask what level of training and experience the therapist actually has in the modality & where they got their training.

@matttebbe Sometimes people list therapies on their Psychology Today profile but they aren't formally trained or certified, but just vaguely interested. They may still be skilled, but it's important to ask if the modality is a priority.

@matttebbe If you are a pastor and are looking to build a referral list, it's a good idea to call local therapists and ask who is good at what in the community before a parishioner hits a crisis.

@matttebbe Find out who is good for treating sexual compulsions. Who does crisis therapy? Who is good for addictions? Which couples therapists have helped distressed couples. Be sure to ask about their experience counseling couples where there has been adultery.

@matttebbe Who is good for supporting people who are being abused and/or whose partner is narcissistic?

@matttebbe Most importantly, find out who the good child therapists are in your community. If the parents are in crisis, the kids need safe adults to talk to as their parents are likely unavailable and potentially unsafe. Kids get treated as an afterthought in a marriage crisis.

@matttebbe As a neurodivergent person, keep an eye out for therapists that have some interest in developmental neurobiology or at least don't pathologize neurodiversity. Feeback responsiveness in a therapist is essential for neurodiverse folk.

@matttebbe I don't really have to tell you this, but have your top three sexual trauma therapists identified before someone discloses sexual abuse to you so you know where to look for support. That will be stressful and it's easier if you're not having to think through that in a crisis.

@matttebbe @K__Mayfield @bcastlemiller @DanKoch - What would you add?