In the Market for a New Therapist? Three Questions to Help You Find the Best Fit

It is okay to “shop around” to find a therapist.

Just like you would not want to see a back specialist for your knee pain, finding a therapist that fits your needs is important. In fact, the relationship between the client and therapist has been found in numerous research studies to be one of the most important factors in effective therapy.

Asking the therapist these these three questions during the first point of contact, whether meeting face to face or talking over the phone, may be helpful in choosing a therapist that is the best fit for you.

1. Can you tell me a little more about you/your practice? This question is always a great place to start. The open-ended design gives the therapist the freedom to offer information about the important parts of their practice and their credentials as a practitioner, which may be essential to your decision-making process. Other perks: Opening with this question removes the pressure off of you to start the conversation flow and may help guide the rest of your questions depending on the therapist’s answer.
2. What is your approach to therapy? There are a wide array of therapists, each of them bringing their own unique perspectives and tools to the counseling session. Some therapists may vibe perfectly with you and seem to have all the right tools to fit your needs, while others may clearly not be the right match for you. Asking up front about the therapist’s approach may give you a better idea of how they conduct therapy sessions. Additionally, this question may be particularly useful if you are specifically looking for a therapist that practices a certain type of therapy, for example a technique like EMDR, a theoretical approach like CBT, or a faith-based practice like Christian counseling. If you want to phrase this question differently or have some follow-ups ready, here are some related questions you may want to consider: What is your philosophy? What is your theoretical orientation? How do you generally conduct therapy sessions?
3. Have you ever worked with or do you have experience working with [insert your concern here]? Like the therapist’s philosophy, it is also helpful to know if a therapist specializes in any areas and/or which areas they have the most experience. As with the previous example, a back specialist may not have all the knowledge or latest tools to be able to best serve a person experiencing severe knee pain. This same concept generally applies to mental health professionals, as well. There are many therapists who specifically choose to specialize in certain areas such as children, trauma, relationships, family, etc. Other therapists may not advertise a particular specialty, per se, but instead have extensive experience with certain concerns over others, for example depression, OCD, or racial identity. It is important to note that you may not feel comfortable being this direct about why you are seeking therapy, especially upon first contact with your new therapist. Here are a few similar alternate questions that you may want to try instead: Do you have any specialties? What are your areas of clinical interest? What concerns (or type of client) do you have the most experience working with in therapy? Do you have any certifications, special training, or other qualifications? 

Exploring these questions with a prospective therapist can provide you with the opportunity to gain a better understanding of their practices and, ultimately, a better idea of how that therapist may fit (or not fit) your needs. Selecting a therapist can be overwhelming, but arming yourself with this knowledge can bring confidence and clarity to the decision-making process.