Questions to Ask Your Potential Therapist

Congrats on taking the first step towards taking care of yourself and your mental well-being!

 

Now that you’re ready to enter into therapy and start working on yourself, you have the opportunity to screen and select your therapist. This person will be your cheerleader, your guide, your supporter, your confidant. Not just any individual can fulfill this role for your journey, so as much as possible, take the time to vet this person and make sure they fit your needs. You’ll be investing time and energy into yourself, so I strongly suggest taking the time to understand who the professional is before you and see if they are a match. This process can be a bit like dating- ask questions and trust your gut!

 

Clinical Experience

Depending on your circumstances and needs, you may require a specialist who has experience working with individuals who have similar issues. For example, if you find yourself constantly binge eating under stressful situations, you may opt towards a therapist who has experience with eating disorders. Similarly, you can inquire about successful interventions that they have used for such issues to help you assess the depth of their experience.

 

Multicultural Competence

Additionally, I recommend knowing what aspect(s) of your culture and background may contribute to your issue at hand and/or is important for your therapist to understand in order for them to work with you. For instance, if you have a situation pertaining to gender identity, ask the therapist about their understanding of the topic and how they have worked with others on this aspect.

 

Their Support Systems

Finally, a therapist surrounds themselves with other mental health professionals and has resources in place to help them serve their clients. You can inquire about the professional and community organizations with which they are affiliated, ways that they cope with emotionally-challenging topics, and their sources of the latest research and trends in the mental health field.

 

While this is not by any means an exhaustive list of questions to ask your potential therapist, these topics provide a start for your conversation with your mental health professional and help you understand who they are and how they can help you and your mental well-being.

 

We have a new office located in Fuquay-Varina. If you are interested in seeing a therapist at this location or at our offices in Cary and Raleigh, please call 919-636-0762.

 

Janice Cuaresma

Mental Health Student Intern