Questions to ask a potential therapist
We're not all Alike!
Choosing a therapist is a personal decision. Therapists are like anyone you meet; just because someone is a great therapist does not automatically mean that they are the best fit for you. You should get to know the the person with whom you are working because your relationship with your therapist is essential to your healing.
Questions to ask...
- What is your experience working in the mental health field?
- What trainings, experience, or degrees do you have with situations similar to mine?
- Do you have a therapist of your own? Why/why not?
- With which populations do you have the most experience?
- Will you communicate with my doctor/school/family?
- What skills will I learn in treatment?
- How will we decide when therapy is completed?
- When you are out of town, do you have a backup therapist?
- What do the letters after your name mean?
- Who is your ideal client? Who do you like working with?
- What clients would not be a good match for you?
- Will we always just sit and talk, or are we able to go outside?
- What is your philosophy about working with adolescents?
- How much do you include the parents in adolescent therapy?
- How much will you tell me about what my adolescent says?
- Therapists hear a lot of heavy things- how do you take care of yourself?
- How do you feel about psychiatric medications?