5 Questions to Ask When Interviewing a New Therapist
Finding a new therapist in Los Angeles can feel like an incredible undertaking. In fact, it can feel quite overwhelming at times, especially if it’s your first time looking for a new therapist to work with for the long-term.
We always tell prospective clients that it’s important to know that it can take some time to find the right fit, especially if you’re looking for a therapist in Los Angeles or California. There are so many clinicians and therapy offices to choose from, but how do you know if working together will be right for you?
We’re glad you asked...
Here are 5 questions to ask when interviewing a new therapist:
1. What Kind of therapy do you practice?
Every therapist in Los Angeles has a different perspective around how to practice psychotherapy. Some work from one specific theory and set of interventions while others may integrate several into a more eclectic approach. For example, some therapists strictly work with cognitive behavior therapy and gravitate toward assigning homework exercises. While others, like Highland Park Holistic Psychotherapy, practice a holistic therapy with a psychodynamic approach that focuses on all aspects of who you are as an individual as well as what may be happening for you unconsciously that may be impacting the way you process past trauma and experiences.
2. Do you have any specialties, certifications, or specific demographics you work with?
This question is a great way to get a better feel for the therapist’s experience working with specific modalities, tools, and resources. For instance, you may be looking for support around past trauma and looking for a therapist who is trained in EMDR (we’ve got a blog all about it here if you’d like to learn more!), you’ll want to ask if they have been certified to practice EMDR therapy and how long they have been practicing the modality.
Outside of certifications, it’s also worth asking if they have a particular niche or demographic that aligns with their particular strengths as a therapist. Most therapists have a set of populations or issues they feel especially passionate about and prefer to work with.
3. Are you experienced working with concerns similar to mine?
This is a great follow-up question after asking the therapist about their certifications and ideal clients. Depending on the concerns you’re bringing to therapy, it certainly can be okay to work with a therapist who may not have extensive experience working with a similar set of therapy goals. However, you may feel that you would benefit from someone who does have a good amount of experience providing therapy to someone similar to yourself. If it’s important to you, honor that part of your knowing and intuition and keep looking for the right Los Angeles therapist who’s right for you!
4. How much is your session rate and do you accept insurance?
One important piece to consider when looking for a therapist in the Los Angeles area is what your budget—how much can you spend monthly that will allow you to maintain consistent appointments with your therapist. Once you have that number you can also take into consideration how often you’d like to see your therapist—weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. Most of our clients come weekly, as we see that as the best way to make progress and build the therapeutic relationship gradually. If you’re looking for a lower fee, make sure to ask if they offer a sliding scale option.
P.S. - Open Path Collective is a wonderful directory for low-fee (but high quality!) therapists.
5. Are you seeing clients in person or virtually?
And finally, a logistical question that may greatly impact your search. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, most therapists have been offering sessions exclusively through telehealth and Zoom calls. Some have ventured back into the office, however, many therapists in Los Angeles are finding telehealth to be preferable for everyone involved. So if you have a strong preference for seeing a therapist in the office or through a virtual platform, that’s a great question to ask during your consultation.
Book a Consultation with One of Our Holistic Therapists in Los Angeles
If you’re interested in learning more about our practice and possibly working with one of our holistic therapists, we offer a complimentary phone consultation so you can have all of your questions answered and see if working together feels like a good way forward! Connect with us to schedule a phone consultation today (we offer teletherapy so if you’re a California resident, this is for you too)!