How to pick a therapist

by Michelle Scheu

As a therapist, I am often asked to suggest a therapist for friends, family and co-workers. Therapy is a very individualized experience-there is no “one size fits all.” For therapy to be an effective change agent, it is important that you feel comfortable within the process.

 

Questions to ask when picking a therapist:

What is the problem you are seeking therapy for?
While therapists can be generalists out of necessity, most develop expertise in a few areas. You don’t see a dentist for a problem with your vision. Why would you see a therapist for communication problems in your marriage if they primarily work with children’s issues? This can be a harder task for those who live in rural and frontier areas where providers are limited although technology is making it easier through televideo and other methods of “face to face” communication to find a therapist specializing in what you need.

What personality style are you comfortable with in a therapist?
Are you looking for unconditional support? Are you looking for a therapist who will challenge you within the change process? Or, are you looking for both? Therapists from all disciplines are trained in a variety of theoretical models of therapy, but each of us brings our own personality to our work. That style needs to fit with your personality as well and match your expectations of what the therapy process will be like.

Are you looking for a therapist trained in a specific therapy model?
The internet has demystified therapy to the general public. There is an abundance of information out there about which therapy models may be best suited for the problem you are seeking help with. The therapist you select should be able to tell you what models they are trained in and comfortable using.

Do you feel more comfortable with one gender or another?
Gender preference can occur because of the life experiences we bring to therapy. Specific trauma issues can lead to only feeling comfortable with one gender. Or, perhaps you just want a perspective different from your own.

Is the provider on your insurance panel?
This requires that YOU be knowledgeable about who is and is not part of your insurance network. Most insurance companies have an online directory to their provider network or you can always call. No one wants to get stuck with extra charges for an out of network provider if it can be avoided. While the therapist’s office may check benefits for you, ultimately this is your responsibility as a consumer. Some therapists don’t bill insurance and will see you for an agreed upon fee as well.

Is the therapist licensed?
Therapists are licensed for a reason. A license to practice insures that a therapist of any discipline has had a certain level of education, training, supervision and practice before being able to practice independently. If a therapist is licensed, but not to practice independently, it is important to find out who is providing their clinical supervision. The supervisor will provide a flavor to the therapy through the guidance they provide. This is public information. You can check for the therapist’s licensure status on line with the state licensing board.

Has the therapist had any disciplinary actions against them by the state licensing board?
This information is also online for public view. Anyone can file a complaint against a therapist for a variety of reasons. The state licensing board is charged with deciding which complaints to investigate and how to discipline licensed providers should they commit an ethical violation. Some therapists will voluntarily report themselves. To me, this demonstrates a level of self awareness and a desire to get help and practice ethically which is a different scenario from being reported by someone else. Ultimately, you will have to decide whether you feel comfortable working with a therapist who has had a disciplinary action.

Does the therapist provide needed information?
Many therapists have websites where you can find out about them and their practice. Some offer a free initial consultation. This can be a good opportunity to ask the questions you have about them. The best advice is to ask a lot of questions. Recently when someone came to me looking for a referral we went through the questions listed above. She wanted a certain gender of therapist and one on her insurance panel. That left us with three options. I shared what I knew about each of the three and encouraged her to check them out herself. When she went for the initial appointment, she was asked by the therapist how she came to choose him because he usually didn’t see children as young as her child. She had obviously told the person scheduling the appointment how old her child was so there was a miscommunication somewhere. Hopefully, it will still work out for the best but not knowing this information could have been a waste of time and money.

Therapy only works if it is a good working relationship for you. Be an active consumer!