Questions to ask when you’re looking for a Therapist

• Do they have experience working with your issues? You need to know that your therapist has a deep understanding of the problems you want help with.

• How would they approach working with your specific issues? This includes what therapy modalities they use (for example EMDR for treating trauma, cognitive behavioral therapy for managing worry and anxiety). Ask them to describe their approach and ask them about their understanding of your needs. For example, “Tell me about your work with postpartum depression?” “How would we begin therapy?”

• Are they experienced and informed in working with people who identify as LGBTQIA?BIPOC?

• What are their training and education credentials?

• How long have they been practicing?

Pay attention to how your questions are handled.  Most therapists know that you'll need to talk to several different people when you're looking into therapy. It’s part of the process. Your questions are important and need to be answered in a way that makes sense to you.

Things to think about when you’re considering therapy

• Why are you seeking therapy? What's happening right now that you need help with?

• What kind of changes do want to make? Imagine what you want to notice after working with a therapist for 3 months, 6 months, a year?

• What do you expect from your therapist?

• If you've been in therapy before, what was helpful and what wasn't?