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By: Alisha MacIsaac - BSc, MACP, CCC
Starting therapy can be a transformative step towards personal growth and healing. One of the most essential elements when determining your therapeutic experience, is the therapist you choose. Knowing which questions to ask when researching and meeting with potential therapists can greatly enhance your therapeutic experience.
Finding the Right Fit
What is their experience working with goals similar to yours?
Finding a therapist with experience supporting the issues or conditions you're facing will impact the quality of your treatment. Experienced therapists are more likely to understand the nuances of your concerns and provide treatment specific to your needs. Many therapists have their own personal experiences connected to mental health, and as a result may better understand their clients’ needs.
What are their qualifications and educational background?
One place to start when looking for a therapist is considering their educational background and professional qualifications. This includes their degrees, licences, and any certifications or trainings, and if they are connected to a professional body or college. For example, licensed psychologists, social workers, or counsellors have completed academic degrees, often often at a Masters level, rigorous training, and are associated with a specific college (i.e. ACSW, CCC, CAP, etc.). Licensed and certified professionals are held to professional standards of ethics, conduct, and values that ensure clients are provided a certain level of care.
In Canada, specific education and licensing requirements for mental health professionals vary by province. Most therapists will have their professional licence(s) and training(s) listed on their website, in their professional profile, or in their email signature. You can also ask your therapist about their education and training as it relates to your particular goals for therapy. Therapists are used to being asked these questions and should be comfortable explaining their background. To learn more about the educational and professional qualifications for therapists in your province or territory, please see the links below.
Social Workers
Therapists and Counsellors
Psychologists
What therapeutic approaches do they use?
Understanding a therapist's approach helps you gauge whether their style of counselling aligns with your preferences and goals. Approaches can vary in their focus on past or present events, emotional processing or problem solving, the role of family, impact of social factors, the role of the mind versus the body, and the level of therapist intervention. Finding out what works for you may involve some exploration, either on your own or with the help of a therapist. Many counsellors will be familiar with more than one approach and can tailor interventions to your presenting concerns. To learn more about some of the different therapeutic approaches, click here.
Where, when and how do they offer sessions?
It is important not to overlook the logistical elements of planning for therapy. Consider where the therapist conducts their sessions (in-person or online), what are their office hours, and what formats of therapy do they offer (individual, couples or family therapy). This information can help ensure their availability fits your schedule, and that you choose the format that works best for you.
If you are deciding between in-person or virtual therapy, consider what matters most to you. In-person therapy provides face-to-face interaction which can support non-verbal communication (body language), which some individuals may be more comfortable with. However, this requires physical presence, which may be inconvenient for some. Virtual therapy on the other hand, offers greater flexibility, greater convenience, and allows you to access sessions from any location, while still maintaining the same connection with your therapist. Many individuals may also feel more comfortable accessing virtual therapy, due to its ability to lower social anxiety, and not requiring them to share physical space.
How do they typically structure their therapy sessions?
Understanding the structure of sessions (e.g., discussion-based, structured activities, visuals) can help you find a therapist who matches your learning style. Not all sessions will look the same, but having a guideline can inform you of what to expect. For example, some therapists start with a physical activity or a review of progress, while others dive right into discussing current issues and allow the client to take the lead. Knowing the therapist’s style for formatting sessions can help you prepare and set expectations for each session.
How often are sessions booked?
Frequency of sessions can vary for many reasons, and may look different as you move through the therapy process. Meeting more frequently provides an opportunity for consistency and accountability, allowing you to build a stronger therapeutic relationship with your counsellor, and improving desired outcomes. For some people weekly sessions are preferred, however bi-weekly sessions provide many of the same benefits. At times it can be difficult to meet more frequently due to your schedule or your therapist’s availability, so discussing expectations early on is recommended. As you see progress it is also common to reduce session frequency.
What are their fees and will your insurance cover the cost?
As discussed in our previous post, Questions to ask Yourself Before Starting Therapy, it is important to have a plan in place for financing therapy sessions, either through personal budgeting, Health Spendings/Savings Accounts, or Insurable Benefits. Based on your budget and how often you would like to seek therapy (short or long term), the fee for services can be an important determining factor when choosing a therapist.
If cost is a barrier to reaching out, remember that several therapists offer ‘sliding scale fees’ which can be adjusted based on the clients’ income. If you have insurance coverage that you intend to use to cover the cost of sessions, always check if the provider is covered by your policy.
✦ It is important to remember that a therapist's fees may vary for many reasons, including level of education, additional training and certifications, years of experience or specialty.
What forms of payment do they accept?
Therapists may accept different payment methods such as debit, credit, e-transfer, or may bill directly through insurance. Depending on how you plan to pay for services, this may be a factor to consider when selecting a therapist.
How are missed, cancelled or rescheduled appointments handled?
Understanding their policy on cancellations, rescheduling, and missed appointments can help avoid unexpected fees and ensure you’re aware of any requirements for notifying them about changes. Many therapists charge fees for missed sessions or appointments cancelled within a certain time frame (24-48 hours), and not all insurance providers will cover this cost. Determining this ahead of time can prevent frustration and contribute to strong communication with your therapist.
How do they track progress?
Understanding how your therapist tracks progress can help you evaluate the effectiveness of treatment and celebrate milestones. Some therapists use formal assessments, while others rely on your feedback and their observations. Other tools include check-ins at the start or end of each session, evaluating progress after a certain number of sessions, tracking the frequency of certain behaviours and self-report surveys. Having a plan in place to monitor progress can help keep you motivated and focused during the therapy process, while also creating a regular opportunity for feedback and adjustment with your therapist.
Do they offer crisis or emergency services/supports?
It’s important to know the protocol for emergencies, as many therapists are not available for crisis support outside of scheduled sessions. If you are struggling with situations that may require emergency contact outside of appointments, finding a therapist that has that flexibility to support that can be important. Alternatively, your therapist may be able to create a plan with you based on your specific situation, or may provide or referrals for urgent situations.
✦ Building You is not a crisis service. We are able to support the unique needs of individual clients, but if you are experiencing a mental health crisis we encourage you to visit our list of resources here.
How do they approach issues of diversity and inclusion in their practice?
A therapist's respect and incorporation of your cultural, religious, or spiritual beliefs can significantly impact your experience as well as the effectiveness of therapy. In a therapeutic environment you should feel comfortable to share how your specific cultural, religious, or spiritual background influences your worldview and therapy goals. If these areas of your life are important to you, you may also want to ask how they integrate diversity in their therapeutic techniques. For example, if spirituality is important to you, they might include practices such as mindfulness or prayer if these align with your values.
✦ To learn more about our therapists and see if they might be the right fit for you, click here!
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