How to Decide if Your Therapist is Right for You (for Right Now)

So you’ve found a therapist! You’ve seen their headshot, read about them online and the kind of therapy they offer, but you’re still wondering how you actually decide if they’re the right therapist for you right now (because what you need from a therapist today and what you’ll need in six months may change).

Photo by Everyday basics on Unsplash

Here are some tips to help you decide:

1. Make sure they have experience treating the condition or difficulty that you’re having. If you’re seeking therapy to help with anxiety or depression, the majority of therapists should be trained to help you. If you’re struggling with a difficulty that’s less common or more specialized, like eating disorders, psychosis, or substance misuse, be sure to confirm your therapist has the necessary expertise.
2. Make sure that their style in therapy is the kind that works for you. If you’re someone who values direction and craves homework, make sure your therapist can provide this for you. If you’d prefer a therapist who offers more supportive listening and gives you space to vent, be sure your therapist is less directive.
3. Ensure you feel comfortable enough with your therapist to be open and honest with them. Most clients find that having a therapist who is warm, respectful, and nonjudgmental is essential, but that’s not true for everyone.
4. Ensure they seem conscientious and dedicated as a professional. Do they respond promptly to your initial email or voicemail? Do they and their office seem clean and professional?
5. Make sure you have a sense of confidence in your therapist and believe they can help you. If this is your first time in therapy, you probably aren’t sure how to figure this one out at first. I’ll bet you have a sense, though, of whether you feel well taken care of. Did the therapist ask relevant questions and offer helpful responses? Did they give you a sense of what therapy with them would look like? Do they seem open to feedback if you have a disagreement? Do you believe they’ll be helpful, even though you’re probably not totally sure? You likely won’t have total confidence after just the first phone call or session, but you should have at least some sense.
6. They have availability to see you on a regular basis and will make it a priority to schedule you in. If you’re hoping to meet with someone weekly and a therapist you’re interested in can only see you once a month, keep looking.
7. Find out if you can afford their services. Since you’re probably trying to find a therapist in a private clinic, money will be an important issue to consider. If you find an excellent therapist who charges a rate that you can’t afford beyond a single session, keep searching. It’s unfortunate that money is a factor when searching for a private therapist, but it is. There are many publicly-funded therapy services that you may be eligible for through your local hospital, community health centre, or other organization if private therapy is totally unaffordable.

It can take some time to find the right therapist, but I’m sure there’s at least one out there for you! Keep asking around in your network, keep Googling, and keep your hopes up because I bet you’ll find one if you keep looking. They won’t be perfect, and yet they’ll be right for you (for right now).