If you are looking for a religious trauma therapist, you are likely beginning to consider your religious background's impact on your mental health. Maybe you have realized that what you have been taught to be true and good has actually harmed you or the people you love. The journey to identifying and healing from religious trauma can be long and challenging, but finding a religious trauma therapist should be easy. As a religious trauma therapist and someone who has healed from religious trauma myself, it was important for me to make finding a religious trauma therapist a simple and straightforward process. Here are the top five things to consider when looking for a religious trauma therapist:
1. What Type of Therapist am I looking for?
There are so many different types of therapists in the world. When selecting a religious trauma therapist, make sure you select a licensed professional (for example, an LMHC or LMFT). If you are confused about the different types of therapist licensures, don’t worry about it. They can be confusing. You can learn more about the different types of therapist licensures here.
Once you have determined a therapist has the appropriate licensure, take time to read the therapist’s biography to learn more about what they specialize in. You need to find a therapist who is a good fit for your specific needs. Look for therapists who advertise themselves as specializing in religious trauma and who seem to have an approach to therapy that you could benefit from.
2. What Do I Want to Change?
A religious trauma therapist serves as a guide in your journey to overcoming religious trauma. The goals for therapy are set by you, the client, not the therapist. With that being said, it is important that you identify what you would like to improve so that you can communicate these goals to your therapist. For example, “I would like to feel less anxious,” or “I want to feel less burdened by memories from my past.” Having somewhat of an understanding of what you would like to change helps a therapist understand how to best help you meet your goals.
3. Who am I comfortable Speaking to?
We all have life experiences and personal preferences that impact who we feel most comfortable communicating with. Therapy is a place where you should feel safe and comfortable. You'll be talking about some pretty heavy stuff. So, think about who you'd feel most comfortable talking to. This could be someone who is the same gender as you, has the same sexual orientation, or maybe someone who has similar life experiences.
4. How Soon Do I Want to Get Started?
Make sure you are ready to begin therapy before starting your search for a religious trauma therapist. Therapists will not try to convince you to start therapy for religious trauma, however, they are more than happy to help you begin the process whenever you decide you are ready. The length and frequency of therapy sessions are determined by you and your goals for therapy.
5. What is my Budget for a Religious Trauma Therapist?
Therapy is not just an investment of emotional energy, it is also a financial investment as well. Many religious trauma therapists do not take insurance. When therapists accept insurance, they are required to diagnose each client and design their approach to therapy based on that diagnosis. This can hinder the therapeutic process, if the goal of therapy is to overcome religious trauma.
Although you can receive reimbursement from your insurance company after paying for religious trauma therapy, you may find yourself needing to pay out of pocket to cover the initial cost of therapy sessions. Taking this into consideration, it is important to think about how much money you can afford to pay per session. Review the fee schedule for the religious trauma therapist you are considering and discuss payment options when you speak with them to set up an appointment.
Talk to a Religious Trauma Therapist Today!
If you or someone you know is interested in beginning religious trauma therapy, contact Philosophie Therapy today to schedule a free, 15-minute phone consultation with a licensed religious trauma therapist in Jacksonville, FL. During this consultation, the religious trauma therapist will be happy to answer any and all questions you may have about how to get started, what therapy for religious trauma entails, pricing for services, and/or anything else on your mind. There are no dumb questions. We would be honored to speak with you.