Gather information about the therapist
The first step to knowing if the therapist is going to be a good fit for you is knowing what you are looking for. Are you looking for a male or a female? Do they work with individuals your age? What are you currently struggling with? Could it be anxiety, depression, eating challenges, trouble sleeping? Are these challenges listed in the therapist’s bio? You want to make sure the counselor works with the challenges you are looking for help with. If you are confused about what all the letters mean after their name or in their paragraphs, check out this blog post that talks about what the different letters mean.https://barnumcounseling.com/2023/03/08/counseling-alphabet-soup/
Reach out for a consultation and an intake appointment
Once you have picked a counselor or two, reach out to them over email or phone to set up a consultation with them. This will help you learn a little bit more about them, get a feel for what talking to them is like, and help you decide if this might be a good fit for you. During this consultation, you can ask questions of the therapist. Ask things like:
- “How do you run your sessions?”
- “What can I expect from you as my counselor?”
- “What techniques do you use in therapy that will help me with my challenges?”
The answers to these questions tell you more about how the therapist works with their clients. Be prepared with any other questions you have. You may want to ask what their schedule looks like, or what the financial commitment is.
If the consultation went well, this is a good sign that this therapist might be a good fit for you. Now is the time to set up an intake appointment where you can further solidify whether this counselor is a good match for you. Each office handles scheduling differently. For Barnum Counseling, you can email or call the main office or the specific therapist you like to set up an intake appointment. Once you have met with your counselor a few times, here are some signs that your counselor is a good fit.
Signs your therapist is a good fit
After you have had a few sessions, you might start wondering whether your therapist is a good fit. This is a normal experience, whether you have had a therapist before or not. There are no guidelines for what therapy is supposed to look like or what you are supposed to experience. It is different for everyone. However, you know you have a good therapist if you feel that they listen to you, meaning that you feel heard, they are paying attention, and they are able to remember details of your life you have shared.
Your therapist is also a good fit for you if you feel validated during your sessions. This can look like your emotions, feelings, and thoughts being acknowledged and understood. Another sign is the therapist checks in with you to make sure you are getting what you want out of therapy and that you are satisfied with your treatment progress. If you are not, then this opens the door for productive communication and a shift in therapy.
Another sign that your therapist might be a good fit is they challenge you, respectfully, and provide you with tools to use both inside and outside of therapy sessions. These challenges and tools will help you be the best version of you and help you learn to manage distressing situations without relying solely on your therapist.
Lastly, you view your therapist as an ally and they have earned your trust. They are not there to be your best friend or boss, but they are able to guide you towards what you are seeking without telling you what to do or how to do it. You feel safe and supported in sessions without worry, fear, or judgment.
Review on therapist fit
Finding a therapist that is a right fit is important for you to feel secure, comfortable, and validated in your sessions. Having a therapist that you trust and that challenges you is important for progress to be made. Consider each of these steps while you are finding a therapist. Not every therapist is a good fit, and that is okay. Communicate this with your therapist and begin the journey of finding another therapist who might be a good fit.
About Therapist Bethany Winter, MA, LPC Barnum Counseling
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Vandergriendt, C. (2020, September 30). 17 signs of a good therapist. Healthline. Retrieved April 8, 2023, from https://www.healthline.com/health/signs-of-a-good-therapist#6.-They-take-the-time-to-educate-themselves.