What to look for (and avoid) in a therapist
Searching for a therapist can be a daunting task. Whether you’re searching Psychology Today or Therapy Den, looking through your insurance portal, or just Googling, a lot of options may show up with no way of differentiating between them! Laws around health information protections also mean that most therapists don’t have online reviews you can read to decide.
From the perspective of a therapist who is also a therapy client, here is a non-exhaustive list of things that can be considered as green, yellow, and red flags when looking for a therapist or counselor.
Why do I have a blog?
Why do I have a blog as a therapist? To share information for free that I believe can benefit folks. That’s pretty much the whole answer.
Karen Chambless, LPC-MHSP, NCC — Credentials
Karen Chambless (she/her) is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) in the state of Tennessee with Mental Health Service Provider (MHSP) designation. This means she has completed a masters degree in counseling from an accredited school, completed over 500 hours of training and clinical work while in school, passed two national examinations and a state exam, and practiced for over two years under supervision by an already licensed counselor, accruing at least 3,000 hours of experience and 150 hours of supervision. She is also a Nationally Certified Counselor from the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC). Karen has been practicing therapy for 5 years, but spent the first 25+ years of her life as a quintessential eldest daughter and the “mom friend” of her friend group, so she’s had a long time to hone her listening and supportive-question-asking skills.
Karen Chambless is an expert and clinical specialist in religious trauma. She has advanced training and experience in treating both complex trauma and religious trauma, as well as training and experience working with folks figuring out their queer/trans identity and/or neurotype (Autism, ADHD, Highly Sensitive, etc). Karen identifies as Queer & Highly Sensitive and is passionate about supporting folks with LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent identities to grow and heal and be their whole magical selves.