What Are Good Interview Questions To Ask A New Therapist?
In a recent blog post, I took some time to talk about how to find a therapist who makes you feel totally comfortable in every session. I explained that being comfortable is a key component in every successful treatment, which is generally only something that will happen when you have taken the time to ensure that the therapist you choose is a perfect fit for your specific needs. At the end of that blog post, I briefly mentioned a few questions you might as a prospective therapist. I thought it might be a good idea to dig a little deeper into those questions, and the reasons why you should ask them.
The 5 questions are as follows:
1. How much do you know about my problems? (ADHD, trauma, relationship issues?)
All therapists are educated and knowledgeable in a variety of different issues. Training is one thing, but putting it into practice is quite another. It’s always a good idea to ask how much real world experience a therapist has with the issue that you need treated. You do not necessarily want to be their first client with a specific problem.
2. What is your therapy style (interactive, passive)?
One of the most common complaints that I hear from clients is that their previous therapist did little but nod and take notes. The average client wants a little more interaction than that, but that doesn’t mean that they want a therapist to talk through the whole session. It is a good idea to ask what sort of style a therapist likes to adopt during sessions, but you can also ask that they be more or less interactive once you begin. If the therapist cannot adapt to your wishes, you may need to seek out another.
3. Do you treat issues by looking into the past (childhood issues) or by looking at the problems now and fixing them without delving into the past?
There are many clients I see who would sooner get straight to the point than delve into the past. This is usually because they want their issues addressed ASAP. There are certainly times when a problem can be corrected by changing perspective or learning assertiveness skills, but there are also issues that cannot be tackled in that way. It is on those occasions that I believe it is important to look at patterns in the client’s life, many of which may have begun on their childhood. Although it is not common for me to get too deep into childhood issues, sometimes you have to look backwards in order to move forward.
4. What is your view on medication?
A big issue that you need to discuss with a prospective therapist is their views on medication. There are definitely some issues that can be better treated with a combination of therapy and medication, but you have to know that there are often side effects that come with taking the very medications that help you. It’s up to you to decide if that risk is worth the reward. Keep in mind that when a therapist suggests you talk to your doctor about a possible prescription for medication; they are doing so because they are a caring health professional who wants to present to you all possible options.
5. Does the therapist offer a free phone consult so that I can check them out?
Therapists are well aware of the need for a positive connection, which is why many of them offer a 10-15 minute phone consult for free. This allows the client to see if they are comfortable in the session. When you call a therapist for the first time, don’t simply just ask for an appointment. Take some time to ask the questions outlined here, as well as any others that you believe are important to you. Think of it as a pre-interview of sorts, and only make the appointment if the answers given fit with what it is you want from a therapist. With all this being said, just because you go to a therapist for an appointment does not mean you have to stick with them. If you don’t think the therapist is a right fit for you, try someone else.