“how do I find christian counseling in tacoma?”

I love our beautiful Tacoma, WA, the City of Destiny. The secret is out about how great it is here, and we’ve had a streak going of the hottest real estate market in the whole country! (Seattle Times article)

Part of loving your city means finding your places—your favorite coffee shop (mine is Alma Mater), your favorite park (mine is Snake Lake), your favorite hairstylist (shout out to Seven Four Seven Salon), and of course, your favorite therapist!

But finding a therapist can be hard. I hear clients say all the time, “how do I find a therapist in my city? where do I begin? How can I find Christian counseling in my city?” They don’t know where to start looking, and a lot of times they call to reach out to different counselors and never get a callback, leaving them feeling stuck. My goal today is to help make this process a little easier so you can find a therapist who is right for you.

I want to help you find a christian counselor in Tacoma, WA.

Here are some tips that I recommend about how to find a therapist who is a great fit for you!

• Think about what you want to work on and what type of therapist would be the right fit for you. Do you prefer someone who is very directive, will give homework, and structured? Or would you like someone more fluid, who is open to letting the session evolve based on your needs that day, and who helps you feel comfortable to process things as they arise in the moment? You might not know the answer—that is OKAY! But based on what you think you want, when you have your free phone consultation with a therapist, ask them how they like to work and what their style is.

• Do you want a faith-based counselor? If so, you may want to seek out a Christian counselor who will be able to relate to your faith journey and make space for that to be part of your sessions. Any good therapist, however, should be able to work within your spiritual beliefs and respect your faith as part of who you are.

• Ask your friends if they’ve worked with anyone they have loved. If they have a rave review, that’s a great sign.

• Ask other professionals you work with for a referral. Your massage therapist, pastor, primary care physician, or even your hairdresser may have a great referral, too. These folks work with a lot of people and also may potentially network with therapists in the area and may have someone great to pass along to you.

• If you call a therapist and they are full, ask them for referrals of anyone they’d recommend. They may know of colleagues who have current openings or someone who has the specialty that would be right for you.

• Take the time to find the right fit! Did you know that studies on the effectiveness of therapy consistently show that the number one factor that makes therapy successful is that the client feels comfortable and trusts the therapist? Finding the right fit has shown to be more important than the type of therapy the person uses. You should be able to feel safe, accepted, and not judged by the therapist you want to work with. You should feel they are competent in their field and can support you in your healing journey in a way that sets you at ease.

• Be prepared to call a few people! Most therapists offer a free 15-minute phone consultation where you can both ask questions and you can get a feel for what this person is like. Ask how they like to work with people, what modalities they tend to use, what kind of results you can expect, and if they have successfully worked with people who had a similar issue as you.

• If you try someone out and they aren’t a great fit, don’t be afraid to try out someone else. This is a professional relationship and the therapist will understand, and also WANT you to find the person you are most comfortable with. Don’t worry about hurting their feelings, this is a great chance to practice advocating for yourself.

Free therapy consultation in Tacoma, WA

I hope this helps you find the right therapist in Tacoma, WA. Don’t give up, the right person is out there and you are worth finding a great fit. If I can be of help, don’t hesitate to reach out and give me a call. I’d love to hear what you’re looking for in a counselor and if I can help you find the right person.

I offer Christian counseling in Tacoma, WA and online in WA state

If you’re looking for a Christian counselor in Tacoma, WA, I work with women to help them reach their goals of being more confident, relationally fulfilled, and spiritually vibrant. Give me a call to schedule a free 15-min phone consult, or send me an email to schedule an appointment.