Have you ever gone to therapy? If you have, then you know how it feels when it is your first time or when you change therapists. Deciding to start or continue having therapy sessions isn’t an easy thing to do as showing up may require a lot of mental energy, time, and money from you. It may even feel awkward or uncomfortable to have to begin telling a stranger about your worst moments or difficulties. If so, it may be a good idea to start the conversation by asking your therapist some questions to break the ice.
When meeting a new therapist or just a therapist for the first time, it is important to have an understanding of their qualifications and training. One should always ask their therapist what education, license, and training they have. It is important to ask this question because the therapist should have a Masters’ or Doctorate degree in the mental health field and be licensed (a certification in any type of therapy is not a valid license). If possible, also try to ask for their years of experience as a therapist, since it may be more beneficial to get in contact with a therapist that has more experience in the field. To follow up, ask if they are still under supervision if they have less experience since it is expected for new therapists to go through that. Another important question to ask is asking how much experience they have treating specific issues and concerns that are similar to yours. By asking this question, you will begin to get a sense of how they will treat you and see whether or not they are a good fit for your concerns and needs. If they are not a good fit for your needs and concerns, continue with the session and then decide whether you should look for another therapist.
What question should you ask to see how well the therapist fits your needs? You should definitely ask about the specific treatment options that the therapist recommends for you. By asking about the specific treatment options, you can see how the therapist will lay out a plan for treating your issues and tell whether you agree with their laid-out plan. As a follow-up question, ask what each therapy session will look like. Depending on the answer that you get and the reason you’re going to therapy sessions, try to ask if medication is an option. Depending on the therapist’s credentials, they may or may not be able to prescribe you medications and may resort to recommending you to another more accredited therapist or doctor for your medication.
What about after the therapy session ends? Depending on the clinic or hospital, you should always ask if therapy is also offered online. If you are known to get sick or have a busy schedule, it may be convenient to have flexible cancellation options so try to ask about how cancellation/missed appointments are handled. To follow up, it may also be beneficial to ask about after-hour crisis availability depending on your needs, concerns, and reasons for therapy.
Although it may seem difficult to start a conversation with a new therapist, it can relax your thoughts and let you know more about what you are about to experience.
Citations
Susman, D. (2020, November 28). 20 Questions to Ask Your New Therapist |
Advocating for Better Mental Health. Advocating for Better Mental Health |
David Susman, PhD. http://davidsusman.com/2020/11/26/20-questions-to-ask-
your-new-therapist/
10 Questions to Ask a New Therapist. (2021, June 8). MedCircle.
https://medcircle.com/articles/questions-to-ask-a-new-therapist/
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