Alexa Robertiello, MSW, LSW
Therapy can be an amazing way to work through challenges, and work towards goals you’d like to achieve. However, therapy isn’t one size fits all when it comes to finding a therapist to work with. It is important to remember that finding the right therapist may take some time and effort. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t find the right therapist right away. Advocating for yourself isn’t always easy, so knowing some key questions and topics to cover when first meeting a potential therapist can be helpful.
Advocating For Yourself in Therapy
Scheduling a 15 minute initial consultation with a therapist to ask any questions prior to scheduling an intake session can be beneficial. Some examples of topics to cover when first speaking with a therapist can be:
- What areas do they specialize in?
- Does the therapist have experience treating the specific challenges that you are struggling with?
- What is the therapist’s approach to therapy? Do they use a specific type of therapy?
- Personality. Do you feel comfortable with the therapist’s personality? Do you feel like you can be yourself around them?
- Cost. How much does the therapist charge per session? Do they accept your insurance?
- Consider the therapist’s location, availability.
Alexa Robertiello, MSW, LSW
Therapy can be an amazing way to work through challenges, and work towards goals you’d like to achieve. However, therapy isn’t one size fits all when it comes to finding a therapist to work with. It is important to remember that finding the right therapist may take some time and effort. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t find the right therapist right away. Advocating for yourself isn’t always easy, so knowing some key questions and topics to cover when first meeting a potential therapist can be helpful.
Advocating For Yourself in Therapy
Scheduling a 15 minute initial consultation with a therapist to ask any questions prior to scheduling an intake session can be beneficial. Some examples of topics to cover when first speaking with a therapist can be:
- What areas do they specialize in?
- Does the therapist have experience treating the specific challenges that you are struggling with?
- What is the therapist’s approach to therapy? Do they use a specific type of therapy?
- Personality. Do you feel comfortable with the therapist’s personality? Do you feel like you can be yourself around them?
- Cost. How much does the therapist charge per session? Do they accept your insurance?
- Consider the therapist’s location, availability.
The intake session is typically 45 minutes to an hour long. It’s a time for your therapist to gather background information on you, and a chance to voice any further questions or concerns you may have. Some of the questions you may want to ask are:
- What is your approach to therapy?
- How often do you recommend meeting?
- How long do you typically work with clients?
- What is your confidentiality policy?
- What happens if I need to cancel an appointment?
- How do you handle disagreements with clients?
- How do you measure progress in therapy?
- What can I do to get the most out of therapy?
Trust your gut instinct, and how you feel in meeting with a potential therapist. It should be a safe, comfortable, non-judgemental space. Consider your own needs and preferences.
Here are a few tips on how to advocate for yourself in therapy:
- Be clear about your goals. What do you want to achieve in therapy? Once you know what you want to work towards, you can collaborate and brainstorm with your therapist on how to reach those goals.
- Be honest and open. It’s important to be honest and open with your therapist about your thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions. If you have any questions or concerns about your treatment, don’t be afraid to ask your therapist about them. Your therapist is there to help you, and they should be happy to answer any questions you have.
- If you’re not comfortable with something, or if you need something different from your therapist, be assertive and let them know. It’s important to feel comfortable and safe in therapy, so it’s okay to speak up if something isn’t working for you.
- Be willing to give feedback. It’s important to give your therapist feedback on how things are going. Let them know what you like and dislike about your treatment, and what you think would be helpful. Your feedback will help your therapist to meet your needs.
Identifying goals can seem intimidating. Some examples of goals your therapist can help you work towards are as follows:
- Reducing anxiety symptoms
- Improving self-esteem
- Managing anger
- Develop coping mechanisms for stress
- Improving communication skills
- Strengthening relationships
- Processing past trauma
- Healing from grief and loss
