Choosing the Right Mental Health Professional

Finding a mental health professional can be stressful, especially when you're in need of help quickly. However, it’s important to take the time to find someone who is the right fit for you. Below are key approaches and questions to consider when selecting a professional:

• Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)

  
  

  CPT helps individuals exposed to psychological trauma by teaching them how to challenge and modify distressing thoughts, such as self-blame, to promote healing and growth.

• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

  
  

  EMDR focuses on processing emotions and symptoms related to traumatic events. This therapy involves rhythmic side-to-side eye movements while recalling the event, which can reduce the intensity of emotionally charged memories.

Before booking an appointment, consider asking the following questions to ensure the therapist is a good match for your needs:

1. Is the mental health professional registered and licensed?

2. Are they available for appointments within your preferred timeframe? (Specify your availability, such as evenings, weekends, or how soon you need to be seen).

3. What do they recommend you do to prepare for your first session?

4. Have they worked with public safety personnel before? Can they share their experience in helping people like you?

Finding the right therapist may take some time, and it’s okay if it takes one or two attempts to find the right fit. These questions can serve as a helpful starting point for your search.