6+ Questions to Ask When Interviewing a New Therapist
By Arijana Palme, BSW, RSW
Client Coordinator
Registered Social Worker
Finding the right therapist for you is an essential part of setting you up for success on your therapy journey. But how do you go about finding the right therapist? How can you assess whether you’ll click with their approach or style during a 15-minute meet-and-greet appointment?
We know that this can be a daunting part of finding a therapist.
That’s why we have compiled a list of questions you can consider asking your potential therapist during that initial chat. The best predictor of therapy outcomes is the relationship between you and your therapist, so we want to encourage you to really use these 15 minutes and ask questions that are important to you.
1. Can you tell me about your approach to __________? [insert your concerns here; depression, anxiety, trauma, childhood wounds, addictions, cancer etc]
This is part of the basic foundation of your therapeutic relationship because you want to make sure that their experience and approach to your concerns will align with your needs. Their answer to this question should leave you feeling confident with their level of competence and that their unique approach jives with your own needs.
2. What kind of experience do you have with the _____________ community? [2SLGBTQIA+, neurodivergent, BIPOC, non-monogamous, religious, etc]
If you want someone from your particular community or someone outside of it, that’s totally up to you. At the very least, it might be nice to know you won’t have to teach the therapist about your reality in each session. Their answer to this question should leave you feeling seen and like this person will be a safe individual to open up to.
3. Would you say your style is more directive or supportive?
Do you like getting advice from a no-nonsense individual in your life or does the thought of that make your skin crawl? Likely, you fall somewhere in the middle on any given day, but your answer to this question tells you about what kind of therapist might work best for you. Any therapist will come with specialized skills and a whole new perspective but it’s how they deliver these things that might make or break that relationship for you.
4. What kind of work, if any, will I be expected to do outside of the sessions?
Maybe the idea of doing homework aligns with your style and the amount of time you have in your life, or it might not at all. Be honest with yourself here. If you like homework and having something to work on outside of therapy then make that clear to them. If that’s not really plausible for you, don’t overcommit to this aspect or therapy might start to feel like a chore and you’re much more likely to give up and even feel guilt or shame about your efforts.
5. How will I know if therapy is working?
This might be a slight trick question because the answer is complicated and therapists know this (or we hope they know this). Sometimes, therapy can have quick and profound effects on your overall well being and other times you might feel slightly worse at the beginning of therapy than before you started. This has a lot to do with the work in question. If you’re learning skills to manage depression and anxiety then there’s a good chance you’ll start to feel better and notice improvements more quickly, as an example. Now, if your work is deeper and addresses long held beliefs, childhood trauma, unmet needs etc, then you just might feel a bit worse before you start feeling better. These lifelong patterns won’t topple easily, but the work is worth it! The therapist’s answer to this question should be geared to your unique concerns and very nuanced to make room for the many ways that therapy can unfold for different folks. If they’re promising a quick fix to all of your problems, proceed with caution.
6. What should I do if I don’t feel therapy is going well?
Let’s be honest, we want therapy to go well and be amazing, but this isn’t always the case. There are lots of factors that can impact the therapy journey from changing life circumstances, to a shift in the relationship with your therapist. Sometimes, if change is being brought on too quickly or not in a way that feels supportive, you might get the urge to jump ship. Resistance is an important piece of why you might not feel like therapy is going well.
Their answer to this questions should give you the sense that they are open to feedback about your experience. If their answer shows openness, humility and empathy then you’re likely on the right track for sharing tough experiences with them.
+ More questions that you think of!
This is not an exhaustive list of insight-driven questions to ask a therapist, but it’s a starting point. Get creative and try to stay true to what feels important to you.
Some more practical questions to ask:
How can I book appointments?
How often do you recommend meeting?
Approximately how many sessions do you think I will need to see noticeable improvement?
How much do sessions cost?
Looking for some support?
If you’re thinking about therapy, then you’re already taking a step towards a vision of improved personal well being. Maybe now is the time, or a seed has been planted for the future. Either way, we’ll be here to support you when you’re ready - because you matter.
When you’re ready, we can help.
Book a free 30 minute consultation and let’s talk about it.