What to Look for in a Misophonia Therapist
How to navigate the turbulent waters
It is not always easy to discern which type of therapist, or which individual practitioner, is right for you. Currently, misophonia is known as a disorder that crosses the boundaries of disciplines. How do you know what information to believe? How do you know who to trust? How do you know what kind of therapy is right for you, or for your child?
First, begin by familiarizing yourself with what is known about misophonia, and find out as much as you can. However, don’t believe everything you read. Be a cautious consumer of information. If something sounds wrong to you, make a note of that. Thankfully, misophonia is a subject of research. Yet, this work is still in its infancy; research takes time. Research must be replicated.
In the last five years, research has demonstrated that misophonia is even more complex and more prevalent than originally conceived. We know that reactivity occurs in response to a variety of patterned-based sounds—some people-centric, others nonorganic. Misophonia may co-occur with other auditory, psychological, and possibly health-related disorders, but it is not considered a psychiatric or personality disorder. The relationship between age and misophonia is still anecdotal, and genetic work is in the very early stages.
In your quest to better understand misophonia, you are likely to come across various theories regarding the disorder's underlying mechanisms, as well as different hypotheses about treatment. A great place to start looking through research is Duke Center for Misophonia and Emotion Regulation and soQuiet
Once you’ve taken the time to go through resources, it is certainly your right to know that your potential therapist has done the same. By familiarizing yourself with resources, you will better be able to gauge your therapist’s knowledge and desire to obtain knowledge.
I also recommend finding out the therapists' educational background and degree they hold. There are multiple degrees in audiology, mental health, and medicine. Bodies that govern practice, such as the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and American Speech-Language-Hearing Association will provide explanations of the various licenses they grant.
The more information you gain about the person you are trusting to work with, the better. Certainly, more people have now heard of misophonia compared to the early days. However, it is perhaps most important to listen to your instincts, and I don't say that lightly.
Here are some guidelines to help you:
Make sure your therapist offers the treatment you want.
Don’t settle for any type of treatment a particular therapist offers you. Ensure that your therapist is trained and experienced in providing that type of treatment and that it is the kind of treatment you are comfortable with. For example, do you want an audiologist to help fit you for sound generators? If you believe these devices may help you, seek out an audiologist familiar with misophonia and other disorders of sound sensitivity.
Do you want a counselor to help you cope? Counselors and psychologists can work with you to find ways of coping with the sounds that trigger you. Perhaps you want someone to help you with physiological self-regulation skills to better cope with misophonia. Occupational therapists, for example, may use sensory-based activities to manage autonomic arousal and fight, flight? Occupational therapists can help to train your body to deal with the response that you have to trigger sounds.
Don't go to a therapist who claims they have the cure for misophonia.
Be wary of a therapist who has solicited you or your family members for treatment, unless it is connected to a research project.
Don't trust a therapist who tries to sell you products, the sales from which they may financially benefit.
A therapist should:
Make clear how they may be helpful and the limitations of their therapy. They should be willing to listen to you. They should be amenable to working with therapists across disciplines. They should treat you with respect, and with the knowledge that you are partners in discovering coping mechanisms for misophonia.
Most of all, if you don’t like what you hear from a therapist, listen to your instincts. You know yourself, or your child, better than anyone. Therapists are here to help you. We often view therapists to be in a position of authority as they have studied disorders and the ways to help others. However, misophonia is different. Misophonia is a multi-disciplinary disorder without a validated treatment. Therefore, we are in the position to be our own case managers for our children or ourselves. Given that, we must trust that we also are the experts of our own experience of this condition.