When hiring a plumber or electrician, the majority of people will contact at least two or three providers and ask a handful of questions, including: What will it cost? How long have you been in business? When are you available? What payment options do you take? And so forth… Some people will consult a consumer-advocacy website, like the one offered by the Better Business Bureau, to know if any grievances have been lodged against the company.
When looking for a health care provider or health-care specialist, just about everyone will consult several professionals, friends, and family members for referrals. Even after that, individuals will often see a couple of medical specialists to acquire that all-important “second opinion.”
However, when trying to find a mental health professional, all too frequently it seems like people just contact the first psychotherapist they find and schedule an appointment. No verifying credentials… No scrutinizing for complaints… No questions… Nothing to it!
At the same time, an effective therapist will ask you quite a few questions, and a number of these will likely be of a personal nature. Some questions will be on forms the therapist will ask you to provide prior to the first visit. Your therapist will then ask you some other questions in your initial session, and ask more and more in subsequent sessions.
The rapport, relationship, and trust developed between a therapist and a client is arguably the single most significant contributor to successful therapy. In order for therapy to be effective, you should be sincere and truthful when it comes to your feelings, thoughts, and experiences. Your therapist will reflect what they are hearing and seeing to make certain you’re feeling recognized, understood, and appreciated. This back-and-forth exchange that will allow your therapist to determine the best way to help you and direct the course of your treatment.
Why You Should Interview Your Therapist
I know anytime we’re hurting a good deal, we generally experience difficulties thinking clearly. And it could be difficult to know what things to ask a potential mental health professional in a first “interview.” Yet, your questions are very important.
Therefore, before calling two or three therapists to make appointments, devote some time to thinking about the questions that matter most for you. For example:
- Do you want to employ a mental health professional who concentrates on helping people with similar challenges to those you’re having?
- Does your therapist’s marital status, cultural heritage, religion, or race matter?
- Is it necessary for the therapist you work with to have raised children?
- Would you feel more comfortable employing a therapist of the same sex?
- How far are you willing to commute for therapy?
- How much time do you have available to commit to therapy appointments?
Considering trust and rapport can be so essential to effective psychotherapy, the vast majority of therapists will do what they can to be sure their clients feel at ease. Accordingly, almost all mental health practitioners are amenable to getting asked any number of questions connected with their education, professional training, experience, as well as the healing techniques they use.
Having said that, many therapists will not answer questions of a personal nature or extend clients their personal beliefs about issues such as politics, religion, etc., so their clients may be as authentic as possible in their self-expression throughout the course of therapy without being worried about what the therapist believes.
There are plenty of additional questions you should ask a prospective therapist, a number of the more essential include:
- What age ranges do you work with?
- How long is a typical session?
- How frequently will we need to meet?
- How long might treatment require?
- What treatment methods do you employ to help clients heal?
- Is there another person I can call if an urgent situation occurs and you’re unavailable?
- Are there any limits for confidentiality?
You needn’t ask all these questions before, or even in, your initial session, but please do ask them. This interview technique will do more than just give you information. It provides you with a sense of the therapist, how they communicate with you, and the likelihood you and the therapist can build an effective working relationship.
Don’t forget, the mental health professional is in business to help you. We’ve all been aquainted with people we’d wish to not work with. Ask appropriate questions, and make sure your therapist isn’t one of them… This is about your future happiness and success!