Hopefully by the time you get to this last step you already have some good leads on therapists who would work for you.
To recap:
- In Part 1, we explored questions to ask yourself to help determine what you need from a therapist.
- In Part 2, we dove into options for paying for therapy.
- In Part 3, we got out the detective skills to search for potential therapists.
Now, this last step is about choosing the right therapist for you. This may take a little time, but it will be so worth it.
With the list of therapists you created in Part 3, pick the top ones you might want to work with. Now, it’s time to (gulp) reach out to them.
Most therapists (myself included) offer a free phone consult so you can ask questions and get a sense for how working with them will be. Usually their process is listed on their website…either call or schedule a call.
In some cases, you may get super lucky and the first therapist you talk to is a good fit, has availability, and meets the other criteria that’s important to you. FABULOUS…get an appointment booked and get going.
In many cases, however, you will be making a few calls and talking to a few therapists to find a good match. Be patient and remember you are worth this!
Questions to Ask a Therapist
Before you start calling, make a list of questions you want to ask. You can use the information you identified in all the previous articles in this series.
Here are suggested questions (note that some of these may already be answered on the therapist’s website):
- Do you have experience with _____?
- How do you help people who struggle with _____?
- How long are sessions (45 minutes, 50 minutes)?
- What is therapy like with you?
- Do you offer group therapy?
- Do you accept (your insurance)?
- How much do you charge for sessions?
- What forms of payment do you accept?
- What is your cancellation policy?
- What’s your next available appointment?
Please note there are some questions that will be hard for any therapist to answer before you start actually working with them:
- How many sessions will I need?
- How long will I be in therapy?
- How often will we meet?
Questions to Ask Yourself
More important than getting answers to the above questions (and answering the therapist’s questions), be on the lookout for the true test of “good fit” which you will get a taste of in the initial consult (and as you start to work with a therapist):
- Does this therapist answer my questions?
- Does this therapist seem to understand me and my issue?
- Is it easy to talk to this therapist?
- Do I feel heard and respected?
- Can I see myself sharing personal information with this person?
- Do I trust this person with my story and credit card #?
- Do I feel hopeful (even if just a little) after talking to this person?
You may need to speak with a few therapists before choosing the right one. But it will be worth it once you start with someone who will be your partner in healing.
Happy choosing…and happy healing!
