How to determine if a therapist is a good fit

Whether you’ve been to therapy before or it’s your first time, finding someone who is the right fit should be a top priority. Yes, some therapist’s might not be used to the idea of clients shopping around for a therapist because, up until recently, there were only limited therapists to choose from. But with a plethora of programs offering therapy courses and accreditation, and our turn towards understanding mental health challenges at a deeper level, it seems like there are therapists everywhere. (Hello, social media, YouTube, and more!)

So, let me say this. It is absolutely appropriate for a new client to do some research, schedule consultations with a few therapists, and take their time to think about which therapist they want to work with.

Here are some questions that you can ask of yourself, and of a potential therapist. Hopefully, this will help you make the best choice for yourself.

Questions to ask yourself:

What are my goals?

How often do I want/am able to see my therapist?

Do I prefer in-person, virtual or an option for both?

Do I have the capacity for something long term, or am I looking for short-term therapy?

How open am I to getting to know someone, building a trusting relationship with that person, in the hopes of finding some relief for my mental health challenges?

Do I want someone from a similar ethnic background, similar age and/or same gender?

Once you have these answers set aside, this can help you filter out options in your area based on criteria that will help you feel like you are making an informed choice for yourself. And that’s empowering.  

Questions to ask a potential new therapist:

What type of therapy do you practice?

Is this long-term or short-term therapy?

If you need to adhere to a budget, do they offer sliding scale or low-cost options?

Where did they go to school and what credentials or additional training do they have?

What are their interests as a therapist in different therapeutic modalities?  

Because each therapist operates in their own way, while still adhering to the governing or regulatory body in their province or state, they will answer each of these questions differently. So, asking these questions may be really important. And, if you’re looking for a long-term therapist, it can be helpful to know where their interests lie, as you will grow and evolve with your therapist. Feeling comfortable as they try new ways of healing, such as somatic therapy, EMDR, gestalt, etc., will aid you in your own process. And it’s also worth noting, just like we see specialists when we see our primary doctor, there may be different modalities of therapy that might help you in different areas of your life.

Given today’s information landscape (and let’s be honest, often times information overload), doing some research, while trying not to get into the weeds of it all, can help us make informed choices, which in turn will aid us in creating a therapeutic relationship with someone who can help us heal. And that is ultimately the goal.