How To Choose A Therapist

*  Do they accept your health insurance?

*  How much will you have to pay?

*  Do they have the education, credentials, and recent training to treat you?

*  Is the therapist licensed?

*  How quickly can you be seen by the therapist?

*  How can you get in touch with the therapist between appointments?

*  Will they refer you to someone else if you need additional help?

*  Can they prescribe medicine?

*  Can they admit you to a hospital or treatment center?

*  What hospitals or treatment centers do they have privileges in?

*  What will you have to do during treatment? What will they do?

*  Do people whom you trust recommend this therapist?

*  What type of client do they feel they work best with?

*  Does the therapist limit his/her practice to a specific type of client (children, women, family)?

*  What type of treatment approach does the therapist use?

*  What kind of experience have they had with a problem like yours?

*  Do they offer group and/or family sessions? n How long (typically) will you need to see a counselor for problems similar to yours?

*  How far do you have to travel to see the counselor?

*  Do they have an appointment time that works for you?

*  How much advance notice is needed to reschedule or cancel a session?

*  Will you still be charged if you can’t make your scheduled session regardless of the reason?

*  Would you be more comfortable with a man or woman?

*  Is the counselor’s age a factor? Would you prefer someone older or younger than you?

*  Does it matter to you whether or not the counselor is married, with or without children?

*  Is the counselor’s ethnicity or sexual orientation a factor?