![A trail map board at the start of woodland paths](https://viacara.com/img/content/guides-index-feature-light.webp)

# Practical Guides

How-to guides for finding a practitioner, preparing for sessions and getting the most from therapy.

Practical guidance to help you navigate the process of finding and working with a mental health practitioner.

![A garden crossroads where three gentle paths diverge](https://viacara.com/img/content/guides-finding-practitioner-feature-light.webp)

## [Finding the Right Practitioner](https://viacara.com/guides/finding-a-practitioner/)

A practical guide to finding a mental health practitioner who fits your needs, preferences and budget.

![The chair at a fork in a woodland path with two inviting directions](https://viacara.com/img/content/guides-if-not-right-fit-feature-light.webp)

## [If It Is Not the Right Fit](https://viacara.com/guides/if-not-right-fit/)

How to recognise when therapy is not working, what to do about it and how to find a better match.

![A tended garden plot with the chair overlooking growing plants](https://viacara.com/img/content/guides-making-the-most-feature-light.webp)

## [Making the Most of Your Sessions](https://viacara.com/guides/making-the-most/)

Practical advice for getting the most from therapy or coaching, from preparation to between-session work.

![A garden signpost with three arms pointing down three different paths](https://viacara.com/img/content/guides-therapy-coaching-or-hypnotherapy-feature-light.webp)

## [Therapy, Coaching or Hypnotherapy?](https://viacara.com/guides/therapy-coaching-or-hypnotherapy/)

A plain guide to the difference between a therapist, a coach and a hypnotherapist, what each is for and how to tell which one you need.

![A greenhouse with different growing zones under one roof](https://viacara.com/img/content/guides-understanding-approaches-feature-light.webp)

## [Understanding Different Approaches](https://viacara.com/guides/understanding-approaches/)

A plain-English guide to the main therapeutic approaches including CBT, person-centred therapy, psychodynamic and integrative methods.

![A welcoming doorway in a hillside leading to a warm interior](https://viacara.com/img/content/guides-what-to-expect-feature-light.webp)

## [What to Expect from a First Consultation](https://viacara.com/guides/what-to-expect/)

Everything you need to know about your first therapy or coaching session, from what to say to how to prepare.