Lisette Lahana, LCSW
Consultation, Psychotherapy and Training

Starting the Shrink Search Start by using community resources to find a therapist who can meet your needs.. Ask friends, a spiritual leader, or a health care provider if they can refer you to a psychotherapist. Make your decision based on recommendations from people whom you trust. Any therapist can take out a big ad in the yellow pages or on google. What really counts is if you notice the same therapist’s name coming up when you ask around. Be especially careful when you read opinions about therapists online, like on yelp.com, as there is little screening of those entries. You have no way of knowing if that person's report about a therapist is accurate and therapists cannot respond to negative reviews without having compromised client confidentiality. Wanting help with parenting your little one? Check out your local parenting resource websites like the Berkeley Parent’s Network (parents.berkeley.edu) for therapist recommendations. If you identify as a GLBT, you may go to a specific web site, like Gaylesta.org, to find a therapist who understands your community. Heard good things about EMDR, Hypnosis, Hakomi or EFT for couple issues? Visit websites that focus on those types of therapy techniques to find trained therapists rather than a general site like psychologytoday.com.

3, 2, 1…Contact
Trust your instincts. Pay attention to how you feel while you listen to a therapist’s outgoing voice message. How does their voice make you feel? What kind of feeling did you get from your initial phone conversation? Use that information to figure out if you want to schedule a first appointment. Take notes! If you are going through a list of therapists make sure to note the date you called and info you gather when they call back. If you are using a list from your insurance company, note whom you spoke to and whether they had room for new clients. Often insurance companies ask you the result of your calls and they can help you find you other therapists if everyone is full. They may also approve you to see someone outside of your insurance network if you could not find a therapist who has experience with your issues or in-network. When you leave a message for a therapist, be sure to let them know if you want to use a particular type of insurance or are looking for a specific day or time for therapy. You will cut down on the phone tag if they are able to respond to a few of your important questions the next time they call. However, if a therapist doesn't call you back, don't assume anything. A therapist not responding could have been the result of a technology mishap like poor cell reception. Call again, preferably not with a cell phone, and clearly repeat your number twice. Calling again also shows them you are motivated to seek help.

Shrink Shopping
Think of the types of people you felt most connected to in the past. For instance if you want to see someone of your own background, don't be afraid to ask a therapist for more information. You can also ask them about what kind of experience or training they have had working with people who share your issues. Depending on the therapist’s training and personal style, they may not answer questions that they feel are personal. Other therapists might feel it is important to explore why the question is important to you, before disclosing information to you. Some may feel comfortable telling you right away. Don't be afraid to schedule more than one first time appointment to "shop around" for your therapist. It’s okay to let therapists know that you only want to meet with them once, to see if it feels like a good match. Therapists understand that finding someone you feel you can connect with is the key to therapy that works.

Patience with the Process Pays Off
This journey you have embarked upon will take time so don’t wait until you feel you or your relationship have reached a crisis state. Sometimes finding the right therapist for you may take weeks or over a month. Keep at it and don't get discouraged. Keep in mind that good connection to a therapist may be a mix of many things: humor, ability to trust, training, experience, technique, location and availability. Take your time to find the right one as a good therapist can be available to help you over the course of your lifetime. Good luck on your shrink search and feel free to call if you need help finding a local therapist.

Lisette Lahana, LCSW has a private psychotherapy practice in Oakland, CA. She welcomes adults going through life transitions and those working to manage their stress level. Lisette has been a licensed therapist and an EMDR therapist for over 10 years.

445 Bellevue Ave. #104 Oakland, CA 94610

Phone: (510) 915-4795

Email: Therapy at LisetteLahana.com

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