How to Find a Therapist After a Severe Accident
After being hurt in a severe car accident or suffering another type of severe injury, it’s likely that your life has changed. If you are someone who’s been hurt in an accident, one of the first things you’ll want to do after hiring a personal injury attorney for your personal injury case is to consider hiring a therapist, too.
Even if you aren’t someone who’s ever seen a therapist before and aren’t sure if therapy would work for you, the reality is that you’re in a life transition and might needs support. When people are severely hurt, they naturally grieve the loss of a normal life. This means that, if you’re like most, you’ll go through stages of grief like anger, rage, sadness, and acceptance. Having a therapist by your side to help you every step of the way could be a great way to help your recovery and overall mental well-being during this difficult time. For ways to find a therapist after a serious accident and why it might be in your best interest, read on.
Understanding Grief
If you’ve been in a severe accident and have already taken the time to hire a personal injury law firm attorney to represent you in your personal injury claim, the next step might be to contact a licensed psychologist to sign up for a first session. The reason this is important is that you will be facing a challenging road ahead.
Between the stress of being part of a motor vehicle accident claim or other legal action and the depression or anguish that might come from the loss of a normal life during recovery, it could be helpful to have a therapist you can trust to listen. The reality is that you’ll experience the stages of grief and may need assistance beyond family members. The great news is that it’s easier than ever to get a first-time appointment with a licensed therapist in any area.
Maybe you live in New Orleans and found your personal injury attorney through a Google search for ‘accident lawyers in New Orleans.’ Finding a fantastic attorney is actually pretty therapeutic in that it can help decrease any anxiety you may be feeling. Once you’ve hired a lawyer who can work with you to ensure a favorable verdict, you might find your fears are lessened, and you can focus on recovery better. Having found an attorney with years of experience who will work hard to represent you, you’ll want to do the same when looking for mental health services.
Ways to Connect Online
Some people hesitate to call a therapist or look into mental health services because they’re focused on recovery or a personal injury lawsuit and believe they’re too busy for in-person therapy sessions. Fortunately, licensed psychologists and clinicians are available now for teletherapy services, which means you can get therapy from home, a hospital bed, or anywhere that works best for you.
Telehealth visits with a therapist work the same as therapy would work in person. Finding an online psychologist to work with you on your anxiety and grief after a car wreck might be easier than you think. Simply call your regular health care provider and ask about whom they recommend for online therapy.
Why Therapy Matters
In the same way, being surrounded by loving friends and family members will matter as you work to recover from your injury, having a good mental health advocate will be important to your recovery story, too. Using best practices, mental health clinicians can offer you tools to reduce anxiety and accept your new circumstances that family and friends might not have access to. One great way to use your natural support team to help you out is to ask the people who care about you who they’ve used for mental health help. A referral to someone a friend trusts could be enough to help you find the perfect psychologist for you. Don’t be afraid to ask around.
In the end, while most people think therapists are for people with substance abuse issues, home abuse issues, serious mental illnesses, or extreme pathologies, the truth is that clinicians have many areas of practice. A grief therapist or a therapist who specializes in working with people with disabilities could be exactly the right match to help you through the challenging road ahead. Whether you’ll be filing a medical malpractice claim or have anxiety about your attorney-client relationship, having a therapist in your corner could make a real difference to your overall peace of mind.