Sometimes, being close just isn’t close enough when looking for a therapist.
Being “close” and being “covered” doesn’t matter if they can’t make you feel comfortable enough to work through why you’re there. Before making decisions that could slow your progress and growth, consider these tips to help you find your best therapist.
2 tips to ensure a great fit for your therapy needs:
- Ask friends for recommendations. Close friends know you best, and might be able to suggest someone who’d be a good fit. Why do they think their recommendation would be a good fit? What do they like and dislike about the therapist?
- Don’t be afraid to interview more than one therapist before making a decision. Shop around in the same way you would when looking for a gym, plumber, or new employee. Most therapists offer a free phone consultation, which is a great way to check for fit.
A therapist might be a good fit if you answer a loud “YES” to these 3 questions:
- Do you feel connected, or like you could feel connected to this person?
- Could you open up to this person (do they make you feel emotionally safe)?
- Is this person a good and empathic listener?
Once you find a therapist you like, schedule a first appointment.
Be clear about your needs during this first meeting. A good therapist will welcome this discussion to make sure they can meet your needs in specific ways.
Things to discuss can (and should) include:
- Do you want a recap when finishing each session to make sense of everything you’ve covered?
- Would you want homework between sessions?
- Are you looking for book or podcast recommendations to reinforce the therapy work?
Be intentional about choosing a good therapist.
It can be the difference between getting your needs met, and wasting your time because you can’t work through the issues that brought you there in the first place. I hope this gets you started on your therapy journey.
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