7 Essential Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Therapist
To be completely honest, I’ve been drawn to personal growth and healing for as long as I can remember. Since my teenage years, I’ve explored all kinds of therapeutic approaches, trying to understand what truly supports growth and well-being. Over time, I’ve realized that therapy is such a meaningful gift to yourself—a chance to reset, grow, and invest in your own life. That said, I’ve also run into my fair share of challenges when looking for the right healer or therapist. So, here are some questions I wish I’d had on hand before starting my own journey:
7 Essential Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Therapist
1. What is their philosophy of healing?
Most therapists offer a free consultation because finding the right fit—and clarifying the scope of work—is essential for both you and the therapist. During this call, you can ask about their approach to healing. It’s important to make sure your core values and goals align before moving forward. Consider asking about their definition of success in therapy, how they track progress, and their overall perspective on healing and wellness. Their answers can give you a clear sense of the framework guiding the therapeutic relationship.
2. Do they seek therapy or supervision frequently?
While it may feel bold, asking whether the therapist engages in personal therapy or supervision, this is crucial. This practice ensures a higher quality of care, attunement, compassion, and containment. Therapeutic work is relational, and therapists working on themselves minimize their biases and contribute to a compassionate care and more importantly internal ethics.
3. Do they prioritize their well-being?
Inquire about how the therapist manages their well-being in daily life. Learn about their schedule, stress management techniques, mindfulness practices, physical activity, or hobbies. Understanding their self-care practices can reflect their commitment to providing quality care.
4. What populations do they serve, and how is this reflected in their social location?
t’s important to consider the social location of your therapist, as this can influence the therapeutic relationship. Ask about the populations they typically work with, their experience supporting individuals from diverse backgrounds, and how they approach cultural, religious, and identity-related aspects. Finding a therapist who can offer understanding and a sense of safety is key. This doesn’t mean you need to share the same identity, but when you’re entrusting someone with your story and vulnerability, it helps to know they can thoughtfully support a variety of life experiences.
5. Short-Term vs. Long-Term Therapy
Determine your current support needs. If you seek help for a specific issue, short-term therapy may be suitable. Long-term therapy delves into present-day concerns while addressing underlying factors, such as self-sabotaging patterns beliefs and thoughts, dysregulated emotions, relationship patterns, and unresolved trauma. Choose the approach that aligns with your goals.
6. Insurance
If insurance benefits factor into your therapy choice, understand your plan's limitations and coverage. Some plans may only cover psychologists, while others include social workers or psychotherapists. Contact your insurance company to clarify your coverage before consulting with a therapist, to save time. My services are billed as Registered Psychotherapist or Registered Psychotherapist Qualifying aka RP/RP(Q) .
7. Specific Therapy Modalities
While therapy modalities are important, trust your instincts and prioritize the therapeutic relationship over any modalities. Somatics is gaining a lot of traction such as Sensorimotor, internal family systems (IFS), somatic therapy, emotionally focused therapy, polyvagal,gestalt, EMDR etc. This might be the first filter to finding the right therapist for your needs,, but don't make it the only qualification to work with someone. Trust your instinct. See how you felt heard or supported in that conversation.
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