10 questions to ask a potential therapist

Finding the right therapist can be a big decision, especially when you’re already juggling so much. Therapy is an investment. It takes time, money, and emotional outlay—but with the right therapist and a commitment to do the work, that investment can be very worthwhile. Before you begin, it’s essential to know which questions to ask a potential therapist. 

Therapy can play a key role in a person’s mental health and bring stress relief and healing. A good therapist can help you manage stress and anxiety, deal with emotions around a medical diagnosis or navigate mental illness, and much more. The wrong therapist, however, can make therapy a drain on your time and finances and cause added stress or anxiety. 

Just like you wouldn’t go to an orthopedic surgeon for depression, it’s key to find a therapist whose training aligns with your needs.. By doing your due diligence in finding the right therapist for you, you can ensure your investment in therapy will be worth it. 

The following ten questions to ask a potential therapist can help you ensure you’ve found the right professional. The answers to many of these questions can likely be found on the therapist’s website or LinkedIn profile. Still, many therapists are also open to a quick pre-appointment phone call or mini-session to ensure the therapist is a good fit.

Here are ten questions to ask a therapist that can help you or a loved one make a more confident, informed choice.

1. Does the therapist have a degree in a field that aligns with your needs?

A highly qualified and licensed therapist can hold various degrees, including general counseling, psychiatry, family counseling, clinical psychology, or social work. 

Different patients have different needs from their therapist, and it’s essential to get an understanding of the type of degree that your therapist holds.  For example, a psychiatrist has a full medical degree and is licensed to prescribe medicine. If you’re wanting support for a mental illness, a psychiatrist can be a great resource. Likewise, someone with a degree in social work, like the Care Navigators at Grayce, may have insight into helping to manage care for a family member or solutions to bring work-life balance. 

2. Has the therapist done training that is relevant to your specific needs?

In addition to a degree, many therapists take additional training to meet the needs of specific patients. For example, many therapists have taken specific coursework on how to meet the unique mental health needs of  LGBTQ+ individuals. Other therapists have unique training on how to handle things like eating disorders, mental illness, or grief. This additional training can help your therapist better understand what you’re going through and your specific needs. 

3. Does the practice take your insurance?

Therapy can be expensive, so it makes sense this is one of the most common questions to ask a potential therapist. Most therapists take at least some health insurance, so check to ensure the therapist you choose is in-network and works with your health insurance coverage. You don’t want to develop a great relationship with a therapist, and then find out you have to pay hundreds of dollars out-of-pocket to work with them. 

4. Do t​hey have experience treating people with conditions similar to yours?

Another key questions to ask a potential therapist is whether they’ve treated other patients with similar struggles or conditions. This will ensure they can effectively evaluate your needs and offer solutions and suggestions that have worked for others.

5. What types of therapy do they offer?

A wide range of therapies can be used to treat patients. Some therapists utilize standard therapies like one-on-one counseling and couples therapy. Others choose to use more unique options like art therapy, animal therapy, guided meditation, or even cognitive rest. 

Spend some time researching the types of therapy your therapist offers, and make sure that the kind of therapy they offer aligns with your individual needs and expectations. 

6. Do they have any positive reviews or references?

Because therapy is so personal, finding reviews or references for therapists can be difficult. Still, many therapists do have anonymous reviews, or even case studies detailing their approach to treatment and past successes. Once you’ve had your first session, there are other questions you can ask yourself  to determine if the therapist is a good fit:

7. Did the therapist listen to your concerns and give feedback after the session?

You can get a feel for how good a therapist relationship will be just by contemplating how the first session or two went. Consider the feedback they gave you during the session.  Did it resonate with you? Did you feel heard? Do you feel like the therapist understood you?

8. Did the therapist ask questions that encouraged you to open up?

Often, people don’t know what they want to say in therapy, or even what they’re struggling with, so a skilled therapist will ask the right questions to help them understand their thought processes and treatment needs.

9. Did the therapist set treatment goals, including a timeline for how long the process may take?

Nobody wants to end up in never-ending therapy without a purpose or goal. A good therapist will share their goals for your therapy and communicate their approach to treatment and the next steps. They will also outline a timeline and expectations, such as how often you should come in, for how long, and what you will address in the coming sessions. 

10. Did t​he therapist express empathy and compassion, recognizing the difficulty of your situation?

A good therapist is compassionate and empathetic. While they should share practical tactics for managing your situation, they should also recognize the difficulty of what you are going through.

I​t can take time to make a final decision about a therapist, so take your time assessing questions to ask a potential therapist and whether it’s a good fit. Allow more than one session to determine if a therapist is right for you. It can help to write out what went well and what positive qualities you noticed in the therapist after your first session so that you can weigh these positives against your concerns.

If you aren’t sure if a therapist is a good fit, consider discussing your thoughts on a therapist with a trusted friend or your Grayce Care Partner to help you decide. Your Grayce Care Partner can also support you in finding a therapist, evaluating options based on your preferences and feedback, or advise you about how to proceed if your therapist needs change.