I wonder if anybody else feels like we have experienced an explosion in our population over the last few years. I’ve noticed even the folks who have transplanted themselves here are talking about the newer folks who have transplanted themselves here and complaining. I get it, it’s not always positive. Getting around and finding what we need has become a chore. We have been inundated with people from everywhere, and most are looking to get ahead financially, unfortunately sometimes it feels as if it is at everyone else’s expense. We do get the privilege of liviing in what I believe is the most awesome palce in the world. The weather is as close to perfect as it can get. We have beautiful mountains begging us to come relaxs and play. We have plenty of water, even in a drought, water parks flourish, and on the hottest or coldest days, it’s still nice to just get outside. However, that doesn’t mean bad things don’t happen. It doesn’t mean you don’t find yourself feeling desperate for help or support. Sometimes you just need to ask for help. You need support for managing all the changes you are experiencing. Things can be overwhelming. Finding a therapist in Maryville, TN or finding a counselor in Maryville, Tennessee, has always been difficult, but now it seems even more so. There are a lot of us, and the decision is not easy. If you are looking for a therapist, counselor or life coach, I would like to help you find someone who can help you.
I want to help you find a therapist in Knoxville or Maryville, TN. There are several things to consider when thinking about a therapist.
Age
While licensed therapists, social workers, and counselors are very well educated and armed with the most advanced clinical tools to help resolve your issues, sometimes for some people age matters. Does it matter to you? We range in age from early twenties to well above retirement age, I am not quite old enough to retire.
Gender
Most therapists, counselors, and social workers are female, but you may feel as if you need a male perspective. Within today’s culture, there are those who espouse other gender identities. Do you need to consider those differences when choosing the best treatment option for yourself? Some people want support, encouragement, and affirmation of multi-gender ideology. Some people don’t want anyting to do with it and don’t want to talk with someone who encourages it, and of course, some people just don’t care. You get to decide if this is an issue for you and will affect your treatment. I respect everyone’s feelings and understand that not everone agrees with me. I am going to treat everyone I meet with kindness and will be as gentle as I can, affirming that God created two genders and sometimes we struggle with that boundary the same as we struggle with so many more.
Ethnicity
I am not talking about race here, although it can apply. We truly are a culture of many ethnic backgrounds and our culture does matter. Some of my most valuable lessons came from my experience as a minority in the city of New Orleans. I learned to love and respect that culture, primarily the French influences and the African influences. I was in my twenties, and my African American-looking, middle-aged female co-worker descrirbed herself as Jap-Italian — a full-blown mixture of several cultures, and she identified fully with them all. She taught me phrases such as “ I’m having my own personal summer.” She also taught me how to do case management and do it well. You my want to consider my ethnicity, you know what I mean. My family has been in these mountains since the early 1700’s and my roots go deep. I can tell that you are not from here and sometimes I struggle with the disappointment that so many of our youth are discarding their culture and language to accomodate those who have discouraged them. I think we can live together and get a long well with our unique cultures if we try.
Experience
Experience matters, and I am not only talking about how long the provider has been out of school or licensed. Are you comfortable with seeing someone who is in private practice and was just licensed a few months ago, or are you willing to see someone who is being supervised and not yet licensed? I have seen newly licensed clincicians with enough life experience to cover those deficits. I have also seen newly licensed clinicians that I didn’t want to work with at all. The other side of the spectrum, I have known therapists who had been licensed for as long as me or longer and they are burned out and tired from failure to take care of themselves. I don’t want to see that therapist either. You want a therapist who’s priority is your care.
Specialty
We all have areas where we are more skilled than others. We are all therapists, but some of us can bring a couple into our office and work with both people to heal the relationship. If that is what you need, I am probably not the therapist you want. However, if you are struggling with out-of-control emotions and figuring out how to manage them, I would be at the top of your list for therapists becaus I do well with individuals. I especially do well with individuals who are determined to heal.
Cost
We struggle as therapists and counselors. We struggle with cost. Most of us would do this for free; we just love helping people. However, we have to set boundaries for ourselves and recognize that carrying other people’s emotions is exhausting, and we have to pace ourselves and find room for healing our own hearts. Some of us take on the added stress of taking insurance, and you get away with just a co-pay. However, far too often, the rates from insurance just don’t allow us to take proper care of ourselves and require additional tasks to the point that contracting with them and taking payment is counterproductive and reduces our ability to offer high-quality services. I am getting away from insurance for that reason. I have learned that without insurance involvement, I can help my clients get better faster, and for those with persistent mental health issues, it is more cost-effective. For example, a $30 copay over the course of 48 sessions for the year costs $1,440. Ten sessions with me cost $1750, but most people are dramatically better within five to ten weeks and don’t need ongoing therapy.
Faith
We live in an area where faith in God matters to lots of people. When choosing a therapist or counselor, is that important for you? There are some who aren't concerned, but some believe that someone who does not share their faith cannot understand, relate to, and treat them with a similar faith perspective. How important is that to you? I choose to consider what the Bible says and remain consistent with it when treating people. I do understand and know non-Christian treatment models and use them as long as they are consistent with the Bible. I particularly like to use Accelerated Resolution Therapy because it works fast.
Personality
Therapists and counselors are a curious breed. We all have unique personalities, and no two of us ever work the same way. Some are gentle and kind and allow you to spend the session venting about your life, knowing that it will give you some relief. Then there are others who are the opposite extreme, pushing you and challenging you to get better. I hope I am somewhere in the middle, but sometimes I can push pretty hard. You need to consider exactly what personality works best for you.
Techniques
There are more therapy techniques and theories about therapy than I could ever put into a giant book, much less a short blog. Technique is important, though. I use something called Accelerated Resolution Therapy, where we use eye movements and your imagination to help you heal. The technique is evidence-based, which means studies have proven it is effective. I use it because of my own experience with its efficacy. I know that if you want to heal, then it will work well for you.
Reputation
How do you find the reputation of your therapist? This is difficult for several reasons. Ethically, it is inappropriate for us to directly ask our clients for a review on any platform. Ethically, it is also inappropriate for us to respond to any review left on a platform such as Google, Yelp, or even the Better Business Bureau. There are things you can look for, though; we do have accrediting agencies. First, is the provider licensed in your state? You can Google that; usually their name will do, but you can also go to the state’s website, tn.gov, or tennesseeanytime.org. The provider should also have credentials and certifications. For example, I am a Clinical Fellow with the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. I am also a Certified Master Accelerated Resolution Therapist. I am a member of the International Society of Accelerated Resolution Therapists, and I am a member of the Christian Counselors Network through Focus on the Family. You will also find that my business is verified by the Better Business Bureau, Google, and Yelp, as well as Psychology Today and other directories.
Credentials
Maybe you are wondering what credentials are. I am not sure about people who call themselves “Life Coaches.” There may be a regulatory board of which I am not familiar. However, there are other things to look for. The three primary credentials in Tennessee are social worker, Marriage and Family Therapist, and Professional Counselor. We also have Licensed Pastoral Counselors. Each of these four professions requires a Master’s Degree from an accredited school and an extended period of supervision before they become eligible for full licensure. A fully Licensed Clinical social worker will display LCSW for their credentials. A fully licensed Marriage and Family Therapist ( that’s me) will display LMFT for their credentials. A fully Licensed professional counselor will display LPC, and with certain experiences with mental illness, they may add MHSP for Mental Health Service Provider.
Choosing the right provider can be complicated and tricky. I am Vickie, a therapist in Maryville, TN, and I help people from Knoxville and the surrounding communities heal from their trauma and adverse life experiences. I can help you. Click the link at the top of the page so we can talk.