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How to find the right therapist for your mental health needs – psychiatrist, counsellor or coach

Finding which type of support best suits your needs can be challenging. Before you see someone, do your research. To help pick a therapist, it’s best to know what each does, how they can help and the key differences between them

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Finding the right therapist for you is crucial. What works for one person might not work for the next person. Photo: Alamy

Many people could benefit from the support of a mental health professional at some point in their life. There are many professions in this field that overlap, and finding which type of support best suits your needs can be challenging.

To help you decide who will be a good fit – a coach, counsellor, psychologist or psychiatrist – it’s best to know what each does, how they can help and the key differences between them.

Finding someone with a suitable background and training is crucial, and it’s just as important to find someone you feel comfortable talking to. Take time to shop around and find someone who is not only suitably qualified, but is a good fit for you. If after the first session you don’t feel like it’s the right person for you, there is no shame in explaining that it’s not working out and making an appointment to see someone else.

Coaching is about looking forward and thinking about how to improve your life, and setting goals. Photo: Alamy
Coaching is about looking forward and thinking about how to improve your life, and setting goals. Photo: Alamy

1. Coach

Coaching is for people who want to see improvement and beneficial change in their lives. Coaching is not about looking back at the past and trying to heal, it’s about looking forward and thinking about how to improve your life, and setting goals.

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