How to Choose the Right Therapist for You

For tips on finding the right therapist for your child, click here.

You’ve made the choice to begin therapy, awesome! But...you have no clue how to find the right therapist for you. With so many choices, how can you be confident that you made the right decision?

Finding the right therapist

Like all people, every therapist is unique in their approach, demeanor, and overall personality. Some you will feel you click with, others you won’t. The first step toward finding the right therapist for you is to think about what you’re looking for.

Ask yourself these questions:

• What do I hope to get out of therapy?

• Is there something that I am definitely looking for in a clinician? Is there something I really don’t want?

• What kind of people do I typically feel most comfortable talking with?

• Do I want someone who is more casual or formal in their approach?

This is certainly not an exhaustive list, but it gets you started with thinking about who you would feel most comfortable talking with.

Find Some Clinicians that Interest You

The next step is to find some clinicians or practices that interest you. To get a list of local therapists in your area, you can visit Psychology Today or do a Google search for clinicians near you.

Start Reaching Out to Practices

Once you have a few people in mind, start reaching out! Get a feel for how the practice works, what the clinician’s availability is, how insurance and fees work, etc. Make sure that the therapist you end up choosing is someone that you are able to see on a consistent basis.

Meeting With Your Therapist

If you are unsure about a therapist, see if you can schedule a phone consultation to chat with them before you schedule! While usually brief, these phone calls can give you a bit more insight about the clinician’s personality, style, and demeanor.

Or...you can go right ahead and schedule the initial session! Initial sessions are typically designed for the clinician to get a good understanding of what exactly is going on and the background surrounding the issue. From there, you will be able to get a good feel for the therapist, see if you connect, and make sure that they are able to support you in the best way possible.

Follow these steps to find the clinician who is right for you! The process can definitely feel overwhelming. Make sure you take your time and find someone who you really feel comfortable talking with.