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A good match

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John Bogdan is nurse supervisor of the behavioral health department at Mon Valley Hospital in Carroll Township.

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Dr. Michael Crabtree says patients should think about making a switch if they’re not comfortable with a therapist after two visits.

MONONGAHELA – Finding the right therapist to counsel a client can sometimes be a challenge, a mental health professional at Mon Valley Hospital said.

It’s not uncommon for a patient to give up seeking help after a disappointing appointment with a psychologist or psychiatrist, said John Bogdan, nurse manager of the hospital’s behavioral health department.

“Just because you’re the best mental health professional doesn’t mean you’re the right person for everyone,” Bogdan said. “Call us back and we’ll find someone else for you.”

Nearly half of the patients who seek therapy don’t feel a connection to the counselor, said Dr. Michael Crabtree, a psychology professor at Washington & Jefferson College who also has a private practice.

“They just give up and don’t look for someone else until the problem worsens years down the road,” Crabtree said.

He said two-thirds of the value of therapy is based on a positive client-patient relationship.

Crabtree said he suggests patients use a “two session rule” in working with a therapist.

“If you’re not comfortable after that, it’s not a good match,” Crabtree said. “You’re dealing with intimate issues and you have to feel comfortable.”

He said the Affordable Care Act of 2010 has given patients increased options by allowing more counselors and social workers to become licensed counselors.

Before 2010, lower-income clients were often limited to seeking help at an agency, he said.

“That’s optimistic,” he said of the changes.

The negative stigma that often becomes attached to someone who seeks mental health treatment is still the “main reason people do not or are reluctant to seek help,” Bogdan said.

“Don’t let the stigma create doubt in your life,” he said. “It’s not a personal weakness. We all have crosses to bear.”

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