QUESTIONS
TO CONSIDER
- Does the therapist
limit his or her practice to a particular type of client?
- Does the therapist
offer family or couples therapy if necessary?
- What type of therapy
does he or she use?
- What type of experience,
training, and license does the therapist have?
- Will the therapist
read your history before you go to your first session?
- How long are the
sessions, and how often does the therapist generally schedule sessions?
- What is the therapist's
fee, will the therapist accept your insurance, and how are co-payments handled?
(Co-payments are the amount that you have to pay beyond the insurance payment.)
You can ask the therapist about a "sliding fee scale," which means
that the fee may "slide", or vary, according to your ability to
pay or your monthly income.
- Has the therapist
ever had a license revoked or suspended; has he or she ever been disciplined
by a state or professional ethics board and would he be willing to discuss
it? (You can call the state licensing board to check out his or her license,
credentials, and any ethical violations).
Then...
- tell the therapist
that you want to talk to a few other potential therapists, and that you will
call back if you decide to make an appointment. Give yourself some time to
think over and digest your feelings about the telephone conversations.
- choose a therapist
and make an appointment for an initial trial session.
Finally...
- The first couple
of sessions should be used to help you decide if YOU want to work together.
- The first
session will be information gathering in the form of a thourough BioPsychoSocial
History so that the therapist can know about you to make recommendations
about what level of service is indicated.
- The next session(s)
will be a time for you to figure out if you are comfortable with the therapist
and if this will be a good thereputic fit.
- Remember, this
is a big decision; you have the right to interview potential therapists and
to change your mind…more than once if necessary.
