Finding the right therapist is hard work. Unfortunately, it’s too much of hard work to be honest. That’s why we are sharing some frequently asked questions about therapy in the hopes that this information will help you find the right match for you in your search.
“What is therapy anyway?”
While there is no formal consensus on how to describe therapy, Dr. Michael Herkov does a pretty good job by describing it as:
is a process whereby psychological problems are treated through communication and relationship factors between an individual and a trained mental health professional. Modern psychotherapy is time-limited, focused, and usually occurs once a week for 45-50 minutes per session.
“What kind of therapy do you practice?”
Some people are more familiar with the different types of therapy than others, and that’s OK. But this is a good question to explore with a potential new therapist. There are several philosophies on therapy and treatment modalities to consider. However, you should know that many models have very similar effectiveness levels for the same issue/condition. This has been well established in psychological research. The fundamental point of change in therapy is having a good rapport and relationship with your therapist.
In the event you would like to know more about the types of therapy out there you may want to research these terms: Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Psychodynamic Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy and Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) to name a few.
“What kind of services do you offer?”
Similar to the question of what kind of therapy do you practice, if you’re open to other treatment options such as therapy groups, support groups, workshops or presentations, ask your potential therapist if they also provide any other offerings you could take advantage of to optimize your mental health. These resources are great add-ons to traditional individual therapy.
“How much should therapy cost?”
This is also a difficult question to answer! Therapy, generally, is considered an investment and not a “cheap” service. After all, you will be working with someone who has extended education and training in the human mind and working through emotional problems. Do an internet search for about 5 therapists in you area. Consider the most frequent cost, the amount of experience the therapist has as well as the ranges you see represented. Costs for therapy vary largely depending on region you live in. The amount of therapists in your area is also a factor.
“How do you accept payments/do you take insurance?”
Understanding how fees and payments work with therapy is essential to a good therapy experience. Once you establish a connection with a potential therapist be up-front about how you plan to pay for therapy (out-of-pocket versus insurance) and discuss your options with them straight away. Ask them how they accept or process payments and how they address concerns regarding payment. Understanding your new therapist’s way of managing the financial part is necessary to help put your mind at ease while you make this investment.
“How long does therapy last? How do I know if it’s working?”
There is no single answer to this question. I’ve worked with clients for two months and I have also worked with clients for years on a regular basis. It depends most on what you feel like you need from therapy, and how long you’d like to invest in the process. A therapist will always have recommendations about your time in therapy, but ultimately it is your decision whether you’d like to accept that or not, for the most part.
Similarly to the length of therapy question, it’s also important to discuss progress with your therapist periodically. Signs that therapy is working (this varies by your specific concerns as well) could be feeling less worried, down, preoccupied, and feeling more peaceful, getting more rest and seeing improvements in relationships, work, school, etc. You and your therapist can work together to identify markers of progress.
“How frequently should I meet for therapy?”
I think this is largely a matter of opinion to be honest. That being said, most clients meet weekly for ongoing therapy for a time of a few months. That’s certainly not the case for everyone. However, it’s not common for some clients, with less pressing concerns, to meet biweekly or monthly ongoing to get the support that they need.
“Where are you located and what are your hours?”
This is, by far, the common question I get if a prospective new client reaches out. Obviously, it’s most ideal to have a therapy location either near your home or work to that you can rest assured that even if you aren’t at your best, distance is one less barrier to work through.
Many therapists often have tricky schedules to contend with due to long hours and accommodating a range of clients. Be sure to ask from the outset what their limitations are with scheduling (and/or what you would need to have accommodated) so that your potential therapist can let you know quickly if they can make that work. If not, ask for alternative resources and providers to explore.
“Can you offer video or remote sessions?”
This question may be particularly important if you take work trips often or have difficulty traveling to traditional in-office appointments due to a condition (physical or emotional). If you fall into either category then it’s helpful to inquire with a potential therapist if they can meet clients virtually, what their policies and regulations are regarding that, and if they have previous experience doing so.
In the future we hope to share more frequently asked questions about therapy. We hope that this post has been helpful to you and your search. For those of you who have met with a therapist before, what’s one question you asked, or regret not asking from the jump? We’d love to read your comments!
Author: Jor-El
Jor-El is Co-founder of Viva Wellness and a foodie and film buff. He most often writes about mental health, relationships, food and mindfulness. When he’s not busy working, he typically can be found lounging or walking around NYC with his pup Nomi.
