I’m trying to find a therapist. What are some good questions to ask?

Congratulations! You are taking a big step towards improving your life! But how do you find a therapist who is a good fit for you? Research shows that therapy is the most effective when the client and therapist have a good therapeutic alliance: the relationship between client and therapist. Many therapists are willing to do a short phone conversation to address any questions that you might have. Here are some questions that might be helpful:

1. Tell me what a typical session with you would look like?

2. Have you ever worked with my particular issue before?

3. Can you describe how you work with someone to improve my particular issue?

4. Do you like to help your clients understand more about why their problem is occurring?

5. Do you like to provide concrete ideas for ways that I can improve my problem?

Remember, you are the customer and you are making a decision about who to trust. It’s ok to chat with a few therapists to help you get a feel for who might be the best fit.