Questions to Ask when Choosing a Psychotherapist

When choosing a psychotherapist, also called a therapist or counselor, for yourself or your child it is important to ask questions. You can ask questions to determine if the psychotherapist you are considering is qualified and able to meet your needs. If you don't learn about a therapist before beginning therapy you may find that you have wasted your money and time. Choosing an inexperienced or unethical psychotherapist could cause you or your child many other problems as well.

Before committing to hire a psychotherapist you can call the therapist and ask for an appointment. Let the psychotherapist know that you want to ask them some questions to find out if they are the right fit for you. As this would not be a therapy session, most psychotherapists won't charge for this appointment.

When you get to the appointment bring a notebook. You will want to write down these questions before you go so you are prepared and don't forget any questions. Bring a pen as well so you can write down the answers to review later. The questions you should ask are divided into categories.

Education- What school did you graduate from? What year did you graduate? What degree did you obtain? (The point of these questions is mostly for you to see that the therapist did actually graduate with a degree from an accredited school.)

Licensing/Affiliations- What license do you have? What professional organizations are you affiliated with? (The answers to these questions can tell you if the therapist is actually a licensed therapist rather than a lay counselor without a state license.)

Experience- How many years experience do you have as a psychotherapist? How many years since you have completed state licensing requirements? (Depending on your problems, you may want to choose a therapist who has several years of experience after licensing. In some states a psychotherapist may have five years of experience but has just graduated school and met licensing requirements.)

Specialty- What school of thought do you use in therapy? (Unless you are specifically looking for a cognitive-behavioral therapist, Freudian therapist, or otherwise, this question is mostly to determine if the therapist is smart enough to be able to answer the question. Many psychotherapists will say they are eclectic- meaning they use whatever techniques are most beneficial to the client. This is a valid answer.)

Confidentiality- Will what I say be kept confidential? (An ethical psychotherapist will take this opportunity to explain confidentiality. The correct answer should tell you about these exceptions to confidentiality: child abuse, harm to self, harm to others. Many psychotherapists will also confer with colleagues about your case. These colleagues would be bound by the same confidentiality rules as your therapist.)

Ethics- Have you ever been disciplined for an ethics violation? (Disciplinary action is usually public record for licensed psychotherapists. The reason for the disciplinary action is not always public record though. If the therapist answers that he has been disciplined, you can ask him for more information.)

Availability- How long will I have to wait for my first therapy session? Are there emergency appointments available if needed? Is there someone on call after-hours for emergencies? (Some therapists use a local crisis line rather than have clients call them after-hours.)

Length of Therapy- How long will my therapy session be? (Psychotherapists differ in the length of their sessions. A 45 or 50 minute hour is standard.) How long should I expect therapy to take? What is the longest time a client has been in therapy with you? (A good psychotherapist will mention that each person is unique, but will be able to give a target time in which issues would be resolved enough to no longer need therapy. Less than a year is an ideal answer. If the psychotherapist tells you that several years is the norm, look elsewhere.)