Questions to ask a potential therapist
Hi and welcome back. I am Darryl and welcome to McCullagh Therapy and welcome to bitesize. Where we serve up bite-sized portions of inspiration, knowledge, and insight! In this series, you have done your research and contacted a therapist, filled out the relevant paperwork and documents and arranged the consultation. So what questions do you ask? Here are a few questions you could ask so to ensure you have found the correct therapist for you.
The relationship between the therapist and you, as a client, can be considered the most important part of therapy. You have to be able to trust this person with the most vulnerable things in your life! Asking your potential therapist questions is important because it allows you to learn their style of practice, how they will be able to help you, and, most importantly, if they are a good “fit” for you. Before coming in for therapy, it is also important to identify your goals and reasons for coming to therapy. When you can identify what you want to work on and can communicate that with your therapist, it puts you and your therapist in a better position to achieve these goals.
So, what does being a good “fit” mean when it comes to a therapist? It can be broken down into a couple of things.
- Do you feel like you could be open and honest with them? You should be able to feel comfortable to communicate with them without fear of judgment or criticism.
- Do you feel a connection with them? It is important to feel heard, validated, and supported by your therapist! It is good to assess if you would look forward to talking to this person in the future.
- Do they have the appropriate competence for your problems? It is important to find someone who specialises and works with people who are going through what you are going through (ex. If you struggle with anxiety, your therapist should be competent in treating clients with anxiety). It is important to make sure they have the right qualifications, as well, Now this is an area that is changing and appears to be moving away from terms of qualification such as diploma or degree and moving towards levels, for example, a level 5 psychotherapist, etc.
A common phrase used to describe this process is “shopping for a therapist.” This phrase is used because there are a lot of therapists ready to help you, but not all of them are going to be just what you need and are looking for. It is okay to take your time when finding a therapist who is a good fit for you.
It’s also okay that once you’ve chosen one and you feel that it isn’t working out, to begin to consider other options. A good recommendation is giving the therapist 3 sessions (the first session is always different due to the formal assessment). If you feel that they are not a good fit after three, it is okay to continue your search – listen to your gut!
Questions to ask a therapist you’re looking to work with:
- Can you describe your experience and expertise in working with individuals who have similar concerns or challenges as mine?
- What is your stance on the use of medication in conjunction with therapy, if applicable to my situation?
- How do you typically structure therapy sessions, and what can I expect in terms of frequency and duration of sessions?
- How do you handle potential conflicts or disagreements that may arise during therapy?
- Do you collaborate with other healthcare professionals involved in my care, such as psychiatrists or my GP?
- How do you approach goal setting and measuring progress in therapy?
- Are you available for emergencies or crises outside of regular appointment times?
How do you continue to update your skills and stay informed about the latest developments in the field of therapy? - Do you have any resources that you could provide me throughout our time working together?
- Do you assign homework to focus on in between our sessions?
- Do you offer in-person, virtual, or hybrid locations for your sessions?
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“A Very Brady Special” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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