The Right Questions To Ask When Finding A Therapist - From A Therapist

Are you in your own therapy?

Personally, I think it’s imperative that the person guiding you in the room has had experience in the chair and on the couch. We often have similar experiences to our clients and this can bring up various emotions, defense mechanisms, and triggers for us as professionals. They need to have a strong sense of self-awareness to process those things and understand how they’re playing a factor in your work together.

How do you view your role as a therapist?

I would spend time thinking about this on your own so you can compare and contrast your answer with theirs! Their answer to this question might give you some insight into how they form relationships with their clients, how they view therapy (short-term and solutions focused vs. long-term maintenance), and how involved they plan on being in the room. Some therapists prefer to be a fly on the wall - others prefer to take a more active and relational approach.

What’s your ideal client and why?

To increase your chances of finding someone who's a good fit, you want to work with someone who has a niche or specialty. That means there will be certain populations, disorders, or issues they won’t treat and others that they have ample experience in working with. You also might benefit from hearing them discuss certain characteristics vs. symptoms especially if you don’t know much about mental health (people who feel overwhelmed, struggle to vocalize their needs, people wanting to make a change, etc).

How do you feel about client feedback?

It’s important for you to get a sense of how they navigate client feedback. This is your time and investment! You want to know they take that seriously and welcome your feedback so they can adapt and adjust appropriately.

What’s the last piece of feedback you received from a client?

This will give you further insight into the relationships they build with their clientele and how they handle, navigate, and communicate feedback.

Are you under regular supervision? What things or skills are you working on implementing?

In my personal opinion, you want to know that your therapist is constantly learning, challenging themselves to implement new skills, increasing their competency, and seeking guidance when needed. If you want an active learner and somebody who keeps up-to-date on evidence-based treatments, ask these kinds of questions!

What values are important to you and how does that impact your work?

If you’re looking for somebody who shares similar values to you, ask about that! For example, if you need a therapist who practices from an anti-racist or feminist modality, vocalize this upfront. Or if you are looking for a therapist who can help guide you in your spirituality you feel more comfortable doing it with someone who shares your faith, you should name this.

How do you feel about forming relationships with your clients?

This goes back to this idea of how they view their role in the space and how comfortable they feel being an active participant in the therapeutic process. Spend time reflecting on what you’re looking for from therapy - a space to vent, greater self-awareness, some guidance, and challenge. Are you looking for someone to be more direct? Does humor matter to you? What is going to make you feel the most comfortable and most empowered to grow?