Surprisingly Simple Questions That Reveal The Right Therapist For You

Ready to begin your healing through the therapeutic process? There are surprisingly simple questions that will reveal the right therapist for you. I may be a bit partial to the idea of therapy. I’m a counselor who has a therapist. I’m married to a therapist. I regularly interact with and support the mental health community. All those disclosures aside, therapy is an incredible step in the healing journey. I wouldn’t be here without it…literally and figuratively. A person trained to guide you in moving forward is an asset that can truly be a heavenly gift. The healing profession, no matter your spiritual belief system, is a space that is rooted in walking alongside people, as we are all a part of the bigger community and Kingdom. It’s one of the healthiest and hopeful avenues available to us.

But as all humans are fallible and complicated, not every person is meant to be a part of your process, it’s important that you be as clear as possible on who you work with. Discernment is a gift and it can be reinforced when you know the right questions to ask.

Seeking help can be quite intimidating because it is a vulnerable process. Opening up to a stranger and trusting that they have your best interest at heart is something that should be done carefully and intentionally. But your healing has to traverse anything that seeks to keep you stationary and stagnant. As one of the most important relationships you’ll have in life, you should be well-matched.

Questions to Ask a Potential Therapist

What are your qualifications and credentials?

The most important thing to know: you want to make sure the therapist is licensed in your state and has the necessary education and training. You can also research the institutions where they have attained their degree and licensure for authenticity and accreditation.

What is your experience in treating my specific issue or condition?

Inquire as to if the therapist has expertise in the area you need help and support with. Training and education often covers a broad spectrum of situations but therapists can be more comfortable working with one diagnosis/situation over another. If you are seeking support after a traumatic event, you don’t want to work with someone who is unfamiliar with the implications and needs of a survivor.

How long have you been practicing?

Experience can be an important factor in choosing a therapist. While it may be more comforting to know that a therapist has been practicing for years, that should not necessarily be the final determining factor.

What therapeutic approaches do you use?

This will help you to understand their methods and see if they align with your preferences. There are many acronyms, techniques, and methodologies that are in the therapeutic space. Knowing more about their preferred approach will help to decide what method you’re most comfortable in engaging.

What does a typical session look like?

Get an idea of what to expect during your appointments, especially the first one. Most practitioners will spend the first session or so getting to know you and your history. Also be aware that their job is not to “fix” you and that transformation doesn’t happen overnight.

How do you measure progress?

Learn how the therapist will track your progress and improvement, and how they set goals for an individual client. While there should be a template, each client is an individual and will have different benchmarks for progress.

What is your policy on confidentiality?

Unless you are being harmed or are harming someone else, all client sessions are confidential. Ask about the confidentiality clause and under what circumstances confidentiality can and will be broken.

What are your fees, and do you accept insurance?

Therapists in private practice have the option to take insurance/EAP plans or not. Ask the therapist about their rate and what the copay is (if they accept insurance). Also ask if they accept credit card payments.

What is your cancellation policy?

Ask about their policy regarding rescheduling or canceling appointments. A big part of the therapeutic process is you investing your time and energy in it. If you don’t cancel within a certain timeframe, the therapist will likely have an additional cancellation fee, so be sure to ask about those things.

How often do you suggest I come in for therapy?

Ask about the frequency of sessions; this will help you to plan your scheduling and willingness to commitment accordingly. Again, there is a template of how often a client will meet with their therapist, but the experience should be tailored to where you are on your healing journey and the level of support you need. Also, understand that this frequency can adjust or fluctuate as time goes on and you may need to attend sessions more or less frequently.

Can you provide references or examples of work that you do outside of the therapeutic setting?

Many mental health practitioners participate in speaking engagements or have a social media presence. Learn more about them and the way they engage with the community at large.

Do you offer virtual or in-person sessions?

Ask the therapist if they have a policy regarding where and/or how the sessions will take place. COVID restrictions introduced the increase of virtual sessions; verify that they are taking place on a HIPAA compliant platform. Ask if there is an allowance to switch between virtual and in-person sessions, should a need for adjustment arise.

What happens if I feel therapy isn’t working for me?

Understand your options if you feel the need to change therapists or approaches, or would like to stop the process altogether. A therapist should have a plan in place to transfer your information to another practitioner, which includes transitioning you out of current sessions. You shouldn’t stop sessions without a plan of action to move forward.

How can I prepare for our sessions to get the most out of therapy?

If you decide to move forward with a practitioner, ask for guidance on how to be an active participant in your therapeutic process. Anything from scheduling time to budgeting to doing prep work. Also understand that a good practitioner will expect you to do your own work outside of the sessions before, during, and after.

Participating in your healing does take a lot of work; it’s an investment into the best you that you can offer to yourself and to the world. These questions will be a great help in assisting you to identify who is best suited to go along on this journey with you.

Are there any other questions that you think would be helpful? Let me know in the comments below!