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Finding the Right Therapist
Client Perspectives on Therapy
Types of Therapy
General Therapy Stages
Self-Care 360!

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.  Live the life you've imagined."
~Henry David Thoreau

What is Psychotherapy?

Therapy is a unique opportunity between two people to explore and share the uniqueness of you.  Therapy takes many forms and many contexts.  It varies by client and the approach varies by therapist.  It is also deeply personal because it reflects you, your needs, and the vision you have for your life.  And...it all starts with a relationship.

Therapy will have its ups and downs, its laughter and its tears, just like any other deeply meaningful relationship.  It will be personal and it will be professional.  In its finest practice, it is molded and shaped by both client and therapist alike.  No one person's therapy is exactly like another, and it shouldn't be.  Your past, present, and future are uniquely yours and how you interpret meaning from those is also uniquely yours.

It's an Investment You Make

Therapy is not a relationship you should enter into lightly.  It represents a significant investment of your time, effort, energy, and money.  It is also an investment you make in yourself.  It's your way of saying, "I matter to me."  It reflects the relationship you have with yourself and your world today and the opportunity to transform those things for your own fulfillment.  Take the time to interview at least three different therapists.  Reflect on what you may need to succeed at your goals.  The quality of the therapeutic relationship is the single greatest contributor to the successful attainment of the goals you have set for yourself.  

Questions that may be helpful for you to ask when you interview a therapist are featured below.  To print a copy, just click the PDF file button under the download icon.  Customize the information to fit your needs.

Finding the Right Therapist

Advance Self-Reflection Work  
  • What do I expect from myself in a therapeutic relationship?
  • What are my goals?  What do I seek to change or improve in my life?  What's my vision?
  • What do I expect from the therapist in this type of relationship?
  • What do I find helpful and what do I find not helpful?
  • Do I have any special needs I may need to discuss?
  • What characteristics or traits might I work best with? (creative, flexible, genuine, empathic, sense of humor, respectful, trustworthy, consistent, reliable, energetic, quiet, etc.)
  • Are there any characteristics or traits I do not work well with?
  • Is it important to me whether the therapist is male or female?
  • Is the location important to me?
  • Are there specific questions I need to ask regarding my diagnosis (if known)?
Basic Interview Questions
  • What are your fees?
  • What insurance do you accept?
  • Do you have a sliding fee scale?
  • Do you accept credit cards?
  • What are your hours of operation?
  • What access to you do I have in the event of a challenge or crisis?
  • Do you have a Client Services Agreement I could review?
  • How much advance notice do you require to reschedule an appointment?
  • What types of treatment do you offer?
  • What is your background and treatment experience with my specific diagnosis?
  • Do you create a Therapy Plan that you will share with me?
Other Things to Consider
  • Remember you are the client and you are evaluating a professional service.
  • Assess whether or not you are comfortable in the physical office environment.
  • Keep in mind that therapy sessions are your sessions.  Stay involved with your therapy plan.  Track your progress.  Communicate your concerns.
Interviewing A Therapist.pdf
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