Questions for a potential therapist about their…

qualifications

Have they had any formal training for their role? Is their work regulated?  Do they have their own supervision? The title of Clinical Psychologist is protected by law and, to use it, professionals must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council. The HCPC ensures the highest standards of conduct, performance and training. Therapists, psychotherapists and counsellors each have their own self-governing regulatory body.

experience

If you know what you need help with, you might ask if your therapist has worked with that kind of challenge previously. If they leave you thinking they have ‘seen it all before’, can you be sure they will see what is different about your individual circumstances? If they have not, do they have the skill set to help you?

goal-setting

Is there a focus to your work and is it realistic? A few sessions of CBT might unpick a particular knot in your life but each session needs an agreed agenda and goal-setting to be effective. In more exploratory psychodynamic work, do you feel listened to? How are you different when the session is over? If the frequent answer to that is ‘no different’ perhaps the therapy is just drifting. How could you regain some therapeutic momentum? Is there time in the session to take stock and review?

session timing

The standard face-to-face session is 50 minutes long. Evidence suggests for most people this is the optimal time to attend, process and integrate information effectively.

capacity

How many clients does the therapist see each day? How much capacity do they have for their third or fourth consecutive on-the-hour appointment?

room

Do you feel secure in their practice room? Are there distractions? Can you be overheard? It might be difficult to share your thoughts if you have some sense that others can hear you or that you and your therapist are not able to fully attend to the conversation.

so you can choose…

If you find a therapist who can answer those questions to your satisfaction, your choice about engaging may simply be based on your impression of them when you meet or speak with them for the first time. Can you trust them? Can they understand you? Can they help you?