Frequently, an effective way to locate an existential-humanistic therapist or logotherapist is through religious organizations. Call to ask for the names of ministers, priests, or rabbis with training in psychotherapy or counseling. These individuals, in turn, will often be able to put you in touch with either existential-humanistic therapists or logotherapists who may or may not be affiliated with the religious organization in question.
Emotional flooding therapists are usually found among psychologists, whose telephone directory listings will normally indicate whether they offer one of these therapies. The same is true for psychologists with experience in direct decision therapy.
Biofeedback therapists can be found in private practice; they will also be found at pain and stress centers (which are often run by hospitals on an outpatient basis). These offer private or publicly funded programs to help people with chronic pain or stress-related difficulties. A number of counseling agencies have begun to include biofeedback therapists on their staffs.
Biofeedback therapists in private practice, as well as pain and stress centers, are listed in telephone directories. Try looking under "Biofeedback Therapy and Training" and under "Psychologists" for those who indicate that they offer biofeedback.
Relaxation training (and sometimes also meditation) is frequently offered by biofeedback therapists (as well as by many psychologists and social workers).
Therapists who use hypnosis are often listed under "Hypnosis" in telephone directories. You will usually find a wide variety of educational backgrounds represented among therapists in these listings. Some are in private practice; some work for agencies. You will probably see an array of credentials advertised, perhaps ranging from therapists without degrees, to those with Ph.D.s and M.D.s. Here, especially, is an area in which to exercise consumer caution. Unfortunately, hypnotherapy is well populated by therapists who lack professionally recognized credentials. It is wise to remember that Ph.D.s can be granted in all sorts of fields—in education, theology, librarianship, etc.—as well as psychology. Some "therapists" practice with a Ph.D. after their names, yet their Ph.D.s may be in fields totally unrelated to counseling and psychotherapy. Ph.D.s who are licensed psychologists and who are members of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis offer professional credibility as hypnotherapists. The certification of therapists trained in hypnosis is still unsettled in many states, where anyone can hang out a shingle. Since many licensed psychologists, psychiatrists, and some certified social workers do receive professional training in hypnosis, these are the professions to which it is most reliable to go for hypnotherapy.
Meditation techniques may be learned on your own (see Chapter 15), or you can seek out commercial or religious organizations that teach meditation. They are sometimes found in the Yellow Pages under "Meditation Instruction." Transcendental Meditation (TM) programs have been popular and are widespread. Yoga instructors (raja yoga rather than hatha yoga) also teach meditation.
Relatively few psychologists or social workers have actually received training in the use of therapeutic exercise, since this area is relatively new and its proponents are still small in number. However, most psychologists and many social workers are aware of the exercise programs advocated by Kostrubala and Glasser (see Chapter 15) and can help you plan intelligently.
ABOUT THE COST OF TREATMENT
Most health insurance plans offer at least partial coverage for psychotherapy and counseling. Consult your policy to find out what providers (psychiatrists, psychologists, or social workers) you may go to for covered treatment and for how long. (If you have special concerns about confidentiality in connection with treatment under an insurance plan, see Chapter 19.)