Edward “Andy” Anderson, LPC
Choosing your therapist is an important part of the change process, but you have likely been preparing for this step for some time before you start looking for that person. What changes do you want to make? Who can help you make them? There are a bunch of therapists out there and many of them can help, and some of them probably won’t be a good fit with you. So how to choose? I would suggest trying to consult with at least three people in person, maybe try to talk to 5, don’t just pick the closest one.
More and more of my referrals come from current or former clients. Not that I don’t value all of my referral sources, but these are the most gratifying referrals because they are people who have sat in my office and experienced what it is like to sit in a room with me, to go through changes over time as we work together, who are vulnerable and open and share deep and painful events and stories and feel that it is worth it to do so. When they say “you should go see my guy,” that carries the most weight because they know best.
The next most gratifying referrals are from my peers in the area. Over the past 14 years after we moved here from Denver, I have gotten to know them through trainings, conferences, coffees and lunches, volunteer groups and sharing clients. That they think to refer to me when they know me pretty well is a source of professional pride for me.
I also find that I am becoming a bit of a therapist to therapists and/or their spouses, and that suggests that I must be doing something right when “the people that know” choose me and benefit from their engagement in the process.
I have worked hard over the past two decades to learn how to create a space for you where you can be all of you and it’s ok, where all of your emotions, thoughts and sensations are welcome, where your courage is honored and your changes are celebrated. I continue to pursue advanced training and consultation to hone this complex craft.
I’m winging the details a bit, but I saw an article in the New York Times a few years back that referenced Bessel Van Der Kolk’s work (“The Body Keeps The Score,” among many other books and articles). This man is one of the bigs in the trauma field, a psychiatrist with over 30 years experience, and when they asked him about his work with one particular client, he said something to the effect of, “Looking back, I think I would have done EMDR with him.” For me, that answer represents the humility and introspection that I try to bring to my work (he said as he finished bragging on himself for paragraphs!).
I’m happy to talk to you on the phone or meet with you for an initial consultation in person or remotely. Call me at 770-827-0533 to take the next step.