What to consider when you’re looking for a therapist.

Finding the right therapist can seem daunting. How do you know you’ve found the right one for you? Here are a few pointers about where to start your search and the questions to ask potential therapists.

Therapy is a very personal space in which you’ll be sharing vulnerabilities and your inner world. It’s important that you carefully think beyond just the kind of therapy you’re seeking i.e. CBT, psychodynamic or person-centred. Consider the kind of person you believe you’ll resonate with. Do you want someone of the same gender? Do you want a therapist who shares your sexual identity?

Other issues like race, nationality and faith may also be important issues for you. In an ideal world all therapists are neutral on these issues but this is your time and process. Ask yourself if you can be honest and authentic with the therapist you choose.

It’s common to go straight to the internet to search for a service and recommendations, and there are many online directories to browse. However, there are a few other routes I’d encourage anyone to follow when searching for a therapist or counsellor.

It’s been my experience that personal referrals and word of mouth always throw up the best person for the job, be it a therapist, doctor, plumber or baker. Asking people you trust may unearth some real gems for you. However, if you don’t know anyone who has been or is currently in therapy a good resource is your GP.

Once you’ve made contact here are a few questions to ask potential therapists:

1. Does the therapist belong to a professional body or guild? Red flag if the answer is no.

Membership of these organisations requires adherence to a code of ethics and continuous

professional development. A therapist who is part of a professional body is practicing ethically,exposed to new research and industry developments and has a network. This both benefits and protects their practice and clients.

2. Does the therapist attend regular supervision? Green flag if they do. It’s ethical practice for therapists to work with a supervisor to ensure their practice is effective and safe.

3. Does the therapist attend their own therapy? This is not a deal breaker but it is a green flag when someone is willing to take their own medicine.

4. How does the therapist store your notes and personal information? Therapists do use AI tools for research and resources. However, utilising AI to record or store client notes is unethical practice because the AI company has direct access to this information and may breach confidentiality at will.

It’s not uncommon for the relationship between a therapist and client (the therapeutic

alliance) to not work out. A good therapist will know when to refer a client on. However, if you, the client, feel something is amiss I advise discussing your concerns with your therapist. I’ve had the experience of being ghosted by clients and have discussed this with my supervisor.

However, when clients raise concerns with me it usually leads to a rewarding exploration for both of us.

Only you can truly know who the right therapist is for you, so trust your instincts.