How do I find a good therapist?

The process of finding a therapist can be full of hope, fear, and questions. By the time you’re seeking therapy, it’s likely that you’ve tried very hard on your own to deal with what you’re experiencing, and one of the most challenging parts of reaching out for help is figuring out who to lean on.

What you might know intuitively is that you need to find someone you can trust to be reasonably competent and reasonably safe to open up to. A therapeutic relationship is uniquely intimate; feeling that you are respected and the process of being able to trust are foundational. This is especially true, although tricky, when one has experienced hurt or disappointment in past relationships.

It can be helpful to know that you can ask questions: about the process of therapy, about credentials and experience, about what you might be able to expect, etc. After an initial appointment, you might have a better idea of what it would be like to work with a therapist. Some discomfort is normal, but if it feels like a good enough fit, a trial period of three to five sessions can help you assess more fully.