Resources to Locate a Cognitive Therapist
We do not have
referral listings of cognitive therapists but the following information
can help you locate one. Click on the links provided or copy &
paste the website address into your internet browser.
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Academy of
Cognitive Therapy (ACT)
www.academyofct.org
"The
Academy of Cognitive Therapy is the only certifying organization
specifically for cognitive therapists that actually evaluates applicants'
knowledge and ability before granting certification."
TO LOCATE A
CERTIFIED COGNITIVE THERAPIST, visit
www.academyofct.org. This link takes you
to their home page. Click on the "Find a Therapist" link.
For
USA, the fastest way to search is to enter the zip code of your search area. Select
20 miles for your
search range so you can select from a wider range of therapists.
If you are
outside the USA, click on the appropriate country.
We do not
recommend searching by last name since not all therapists names show up
using this method.
FOR
USEFUL INFORMATION about Cognitive Therapy,
click on their link titled: CONSUMERS. The drop down box contains links
to information that is helpful to use when looking for a cognitive
therapist in your area.
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Association
for Behavioral & Cognitive Therapies (ABCT)
www.TherapyInfo.org
Formerly known as the Association for the Advancement of Behavior
Therapy or AABT.
To locate a
therapist, use the FIND A THERAPIST link.
ABCT is a professional
membership organization of cognitive and behavioral therapists. The
therapists listed in their referral directory have met the requirements of
membership in the organization. However, this does not mean that they have
met any additional requirements for expertise in Cognitive Therapy.
The ABCT
website has a large section of resources that explains evidence-based
practice, CBT, self-help books of merit, and an updated Find a Therapist
directory.
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Search the
telephone yellow pages under Psychologist
If you do
not find any therapists using #1 & 2, you can look in the telephone yellow
pages under Psychologist. Check for any listings that identify themselves
as cognitive or cognitive-behavioral therapists. Contact them and
interview them about their therapy orientation, cognitive therapy training
and experience.
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Call the
closest university counseling center and ask if they have recommendations
of cognitive therapists in your area.
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Search
www.google.com
for cognitive behavior therapy
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If you are
in Europe, visit www.eabct.com
(European Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapy or EABCT).
Click on Links. Select an organization in the region of interest.
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Resources to help you know what
kinds of questions to ask and what to look for when selecting a therapist:
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QUESTIONS TO ASK:
The Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA) has some helpful questions
and issues to consider when choosing a therapist.
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HELP CENTER from The American Psychological Association (APA)
has useful articles about psychotherapy. However, we do not recommend
locating a therapist through their Find a Psychologist link since it only
includes members who pay additional fees.
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CONSUMER INFO: The Academy of Cognitive Therapy (ACT) has useful
information about cognitive therapy in their
Consumer FAQ section.
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Please use caution when visiting websites
that offer referral services.
Be an INFORMED consumer!
We believe
as consumers you need to carefully check any website that has a directory
listing of therapists. Here are some of our recommendations:
-
Check the About Us section. What do they tell you about who they are, their
purpose, their mission. Do they provide specifics? Are they part of an
organization? If all they provide is general information then you do not
know
with whom you are dealing.
-
What is the
process through which a therapist gets listed. Are therapists listed
because they meet professional, national organization qualifications? Are
there restrictions on listings (only one therapist per modality, or one
therapist per geographical location).
-
Do
therapists get listed merely because they pay a fee. Payment of a fee to
be listed is not in and of itself a negative (websites have expenses and
it is totally proper for them to charge fees). However, if the only
qualification is for the therapist to pay a fee, you as a consumer are
entitled to know that and not be led to believe there are other
qualifications that they met to be listed.
INFORM YOURSELF: An example of what is helpful and useful
information
We refer you to the Academy of Cognitive Therapy (www.AcademyofCT.org).
Click on their link ABOUT US. You can see the date they were founded, the
mission, the names and address of the Board of Directors. A great
deal of specific information about the organization. There is detailed
information for consumers, information about therapist certification,
information about the directory listing.
INFORM YOURSELF: An example of why we recommend caution
Recently we received an email
from a website called TherapeuticDirectory that bills itself as "The
Nation's Premier Web Based Therapeutic Referral Directory."
In an effort to verify this
statement, we clicked on the ABOUT US link: no specific information
provided. Clicked on the CONTACT US link: no information provided.
We clicked on FAMILY /
INDIVIDUAL THERAPIST link. On that page they state, "Search for the best
Pre-Screened Therapist in your area." We have been unable to determine
what the pre-screening is other than payment of a fee.
On the THERAPISTS LOOKING FOR
NEW PATIENTS CLICK HERE link we discovered that they allow only one therapist per zip code.
So, this gives new meaning to their statement, "Search for the best
Pre-Screened Therapist in your area."
So, in our effort to be
informed, we discovered:
(a) we don't know who they are
(b) to be listed the therapist pays them a fee and is guaranteed to be the
only therapist per zip code
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