Questions you need to ask when looking for a counselor or therapist

Last week's post talked about how to find a psychotherapist, counselor, or therapist when you’re looking in the Lebanon and Harrisburg areas. If you missed this post, you can find it here.

You’ve found a therapist. Now what?

OK, let's say you've found several therapists in Annville (Lebanon County Area), and they seem to be what you're looking for. Now what? Most psychotherapists will offer a phone consultation. So, you pick up the phone to call, and realize, "what the heck am I supposed to say or ask?"

Questions to ask a counselor

1. What kind of experience do you have (with my specific issues and problems)?

You want to make sure that the therapist's expertise matches your needs.

For instance, you're not going to see an eye doctor for ear pain; the same goes for finding a counselor. As I've mentioned in my previous post, one person cannot possibly be the one person for all problems--

You don't want a "one size fits all" counselor.

2. How often will sessions be scheduled and how long is each session?

On average, individual therapy sessions tend to be 45-50 minutes long and can extend to perhaps 60 or even 90 minutes depending on the extent of the problem, and issues being discussed.

Counselors can vary on the frequency of sessions recommended. Some therapists work well with providing sessions every two or so weeks. For me, I've found that I work best with clients on a weekly basis, particularly during the beginning of the therapeutic process.

3. What is the therapist's fee?

You are going to want to find out how much a therapist will charge per session. Regardless of the counselor accepts your insurance or not, you'll need to check with your insurance carrier to find out exactly what they do and don't cover.

It should be noted that with the current state of health care in our country, many counselors and psychotherapists in private practice opt-out of accepting insurance; however, will provide a receipt as an "out of network" provider for you to submit to your insurance carrier for potential reimbursement. It is important for you to find out ahead of time what will and won't be covered.

With that being said, it is important to understand that just because a therapist's fee is low and/or accepts your particular insurance, does not guarantee he/she/they are the best counselor for you or your needs. I urge you to look at all of the factors discussed to help you decide which psychotherapist to choose.

4. What makes therapy with this therapist different than with other counselors or psychotherapists in Annville?

This is a biggie-

When you first begin to narrow down your list of potential counselors whose expertise and specialties match your personal needs, how do you possibly make a decision?

Make sure you're not just a number.

By that, I mean, are you just part of the revolving door at an agency or office that sees countless clients every day? You are a person; a human being, who is in need of a counselor who is not trying to see as many clients as possible to meet their daily, mandated, quota.

You deserve to work with a psychotherapist or counselor who genuinely listens to your own personal, unique story; who will be focused on you and your personal struggles---not an overworked counselor or therapist who is being pushed to see as many clients as possible.

I hope I’ve given you some things to think about and have helped you make some decisions.

Looking for a Counselor in Annville?

If you’re still stuck on this, or if you’re experiencing problems related to past trauma, and/or feeling like your life is out of control, give me a call for a free, 15-minute, phone consultation at 717-685-5074. You can also book your own consultation for counseling here. I’d be happy to hear about what’s going on and point you in the right direction.

As a DBT therapist, I specialize in the treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder, anxiety, and trauma. I provide counseling in Annville, Harrisburg, Lancaster, York, Lebanon, and Philadelphia.