Questions to Ask When You are Choosing a Therapist
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As if taking the step to get therapy was not already challenging, then there is also the task of choosing a therapist. If you tried Google you already discovered there are a lot of therapists out there. How do you choose? I’ve come up with some questions that will help you get the information you need about a potential counselor, so that you can make a choice that feels right for you.
There are two main categories of questions to ask a therapist. The first category of questions relates to the qualifications of the therapist, her experience and fit for your needs. The second category relates to the business aspect of therapy. Many of these questions will be covered in the informed consent that you will sign prior to beginning therapy, but it is ok to ask these questions in an initial consultation and to review them after you have read the informed consent.
In order to find out if this is the right therapist for you, here’s a list of questions to get you started.
Are you licensed? You will want to know if the counselor is a state licensed therapist (as opposed to a “Biblical Counselor” a “Life Coach” or other non-licensed professional. While Biblical Counselors and Life Coaches are helpful, they are not required to have the training in therapy techniques that have been scientifically tested and shown to be effective. This is especially important when it comes to trauma recovery which requires specialized techniques for best results.
What training and experience do you have in treating (your issue)? Therapy is a broad category with many sub specializations within it. Eating disorders, autism spectrum disorders, trauma, adolescents, and relationships are just a few examples. My main specialization is trauma recovery so I have done extensive extra training in that area including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing training, Cognitive Processing Therapy training, Internal Family Systems training, and additional training that is ongoing. I especially enjoy working with adults who have experienced relational trauma (abandonment, abuse, infidelity, narcissistic partner, etc). My colleague Michelle Temofonte specializes in working with adolescents. As a former nurse, she is especially skilled at working with teens who self-harm. Michelle also has specialized training in trauma recovery, including Cognitive Processing Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing as well as hypnotherapy (she can help people stop smoking for instance).
Ask yourself, does this person feel like someone you can relate to? Their age or gender may be important to you. Perhaps you want to know that they share your faith. If you are a parent you may want a counselor who has raised children who can relate to the issues you may be having. All of these issues are related to whether or not the person is a good match for you. The research indicates that people have the best results from therapy when there is a strong therapeutic alliance. It’s ok to want to feel that you and your counselor have a good connection. This is why at Online Counseling of Texas we offer a free video consultation. You can see your potential therapist, ask questions and find out if you feel comfortable moving forward.
How long will it take to feel better? This is a totally valid question, but it will be difficult for a therapist to answer in a consultation. They will be able to give you some general statistics but not be specific to your case. Because I work with trauma, I think it is important to have short and long term strategies. Starting in the first session, I give clients some techniques they can use throughout the week to help them feel better while we work toward the long term goal of trauma recovery. As a result my clients usually report an improvement after just one session in at least one aspect of their problem. They may be sleeping better, or they have been able to focus on the present moment. It’s not recovery, but it gives them hope to keep moving forward.
The second category of questions may include::
How long are therapy sessions?
What is your policy for canceled appointments?
How much do you charge per session?
Do you bill insurance?
Many people lead with the second category of questions, especially questions about insurance. While it is valid and even essential to ask these questions, please do yourself a favor and ask the questions from the first group as well. Whether or not a therapist takes your insurance will not have as much impact on the results you see from therapy as whether or not they are a good match for you and whether or not they have training to help with the specific issues you are experiencing.
I hope this gives you a good starting point when you call to talk to a therapist. Remember, we offer free video consultations. Give us a call to schedule an appointment today. 832-534-3624.
