Forum topic: How do you find the right therapist?

I just answered part of my question in a reply to another post- by groups like CHADD and recomendations of others. I'm asking more along the lines of credentials, experience, and style. Well, I guess too- other sources for recomendations. Is there any sort criterea or resource to find someone who actually specializes in the topic? I have a hang up about the medical field becasue I've run into people and offices who are clearly more intersted in their business interests than what I wanted or needed. I've changed insurance carriers several times over the past few years and have had to get any treatment approved or reapproved by my primary care doctor. This group has argued about and actually refused to approve my chiropractor and phsycologist becasue they did work for that medical group. I guess to them it didn't matter that I had been seeing these people for years and they were also approved with the new insurance company. So yeah, I'm certainly guilty of getting caught up in the past on that one. It makes me mad even thinking about all that. I'm a little sensative about working with new professionals but now I'm forced to find at least one new person. For my med reviews, she just moved out of state and the gentalman I was seeing counseling isn't covered by our current insurance and I can't afford to private pay. So as far as style and experience with the topic of ADD (specically adult diagnosed in my case) is there any suggestions about what questions I can ask of the person durring an initial meeting? I really valued the other professionals and if I have to find someone new, I would really like to be able to first find out about them and we'll talk about me. Thanks in advance for any thoughts or ideas

Comments

I can relate to your problem a little. Years ago when I was first diagnosed with Adult ADHD, I bought a bunch of books, Driven by Distraction was one of my fav's actually, and my wife's as well. Well I knew I wanted to learn as much as possible about my ADHD as I could. Eventually I sought out therapy, I made an appt, from a referal from my primary care doctor, to see a therapist. Well I got to the appt, and after 5 minutes of explaining what I wanted out of therapy, the doctor turned to me and said, well I can understand your thoughts and frustrations, but I am a meds doctor not a therapist. I was totally upset at this point. Here I felt I just wasted 35 dollars(my co-pay) and my time to someone who can only monitor my meds, not my adhd. My own regular doc can do that I thought. I did ask him to refer me to someone who can help me, and he referred me to a Dr. Novo in Florence, MA. Which he was in the same building as the meds doc was. Well I seen Dr. Novo several times and although he didn't know too much about ADHD he helped a little, I even brought my wife to a few sessions with me and we both felt it was going nowhere. It was just talking about problems but no real solutions to them. So after about 10 sessions I ended it. Now I have a different job and better insurance, so I can see a therapist. But I am at a loss, I live here in Western Mass, and can't seem to find anyone decent that can help with therapy for ADHD. I don't want to go through another 10 sessions that helps to talk, I want sessions where I can learn to get the help I need, and the tools to change my attitude and behavior and anger issues. I am doing it for myself mostly, but also for my wife who I love dearly, and who doesn't deserve a angry, frustrated husband. So if anyone knows of a good therapist, that hopefully takes my insurance that can help with tools to change one's behavior and anger issues, please let me know. Like I said I live in Western Massachusetts, and live around the Northampton, Easthampton area.

why don't you see if there is a local CHADD in the area that can give you some help identifying the local experts?

Melissa Orlov

I have went to the chadd website, and looked up professionals for myself, and after trying to use the site several times and getting errors, it finally let me look up for anyone in my area, granted there was only one within my area. Its a short drive, and I emailed them asking if they were accepting new patients, but I think I will also call them this friday and see as well. Thanks for the tip by the way for going to that website.

I went to the chadd site as I stated above, and I looked up a few doctors, well I gave one a call, and after playing phone tag for almost 2 days, I finally got ahold of them, and I have an appointment on Thursday. I was surprised I would be seen so early. But that is great news for me. I am hoping this new doctor can help with all my things I need to be worked on.