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If you had a nervous breakdown today or a loved one did, where will you go to seek professional help? Did the name of any mental health professional come to mind and I’m not talking about the spiritual counselling that you can readily access from your pastor. That kind of counselling targets spiritual issues. I’m also not talking about the advice you can get from a friend or a colleague. Such advice albeit good may lack objectivity. Also, with a friend, privacy remains an issue of concern.
For your information, you need a trained professional for an effective outcome when dealing with a mental health issue (emotional or psychological). A trained professional will keep the information you share confidential and their outlook is bound to be objective. Your friend may try to protect your feelings and in the process, avoid the issue all together.
That said, below is a guide on how to get a good therapist, counselor, psychologist, psychiatrist in Nairobi, Kenya. Consider the following:
- Cost of the Service
For starters, paying high premium is not an indicator that you’ll get high quality and responsive services. You can get an affordable yet quality and responsive service. By affordable I don’t mean cheap. Cheap can be expensive and it’s a pointer that you are either dealing with an amateur or someone who is not well trained. Accordingly, avoid cheaply valued services unless they are being offered by an institution like a hospital, church, university or a charitable organization. Such institutions can comfortably offer high quality care at affordable rates because they do not depend on service fees for their operations. In most cases, the mental health services they offer are an additional service.
The average rate of counselling services in Kenya is around Ksh. 2500. The rate can be as high as Ksh. 5000 or as low as 1500 depending on where the counseling firm is located. Therefore, a therapist who charges between 2000 to 3000 per session is fair and in my view affordable. They are also likely to be well trained and experienced. Keep in mind, the first session may be slightly expensive because it’s bound to be longer.
- Years of Experience
In the same vein, experience is important. Generally, a therapist with above 2 years’ experience is effective. If you feel your issue is very complex, a therapist with over 5 years is perfectly suited for you. However, keep in mind that what seems complex to you may be a straight forward issue for the therapist. Never dismiss or despise a therapist that they are too young to understand your issue. Some young therapists can surprise you with their level of commitment and creativity.
- Training of the Therapist
Equally important is the level of Education of a therapist. In my experience, it’s safer to opt for someone with a degree and above in either counseling or psychology or a combination of the two. In fact, as per the Kenyan law, to qualify as a practitioner in the field of mental health, the minimum qualification is a degree. I prefer a degree and above to say a diploma or certificate in counseling because the course work covered in a degree is broader and deeper. When you get a referral, search the name of the therapist online. If you therapist is a serious person, you’ll find this information in their websites/pages.
- Approach the therapist uses
In addition, try to understand the approach a therapist uses. For your information, therapists use different approaches and techniques in their work. Some of the approaches include: Psychodynamic approach, Humanistic Approach and the Cognitive & Behavioral Therapies. These three are the most common. There are others. Depending on your issue, one approach may be more effective than the other. For instance, Cognitive Behavioral Therapies are best suited for those struggling with depression and anxiety.
You can check online listing and directories for therapists in your area. Read the profile of the therapist keenly before reaching out. Call them an inquire more about the charges, number of sessions, length of the sessions, mode of dispensing the service(in-person/online), area of specialisation and the approach of the therapist. The information is not exhaustive but it will definitely help you in your search for a therapist. Reach to us on info@shalomcounseling for more information or visit our site.