Questions to ask a therapist or counselor in Boulder, Colorado

You’ve been thinking about starting therapy for awhile. You’ve googled every possible version of “therapist+Boulder.” You’ve read dozens (feels like thousands) of therapist websites and profiles, and found some that sound good. But how can you know which therapist is the best one for you? 

Ask for a consultation

Many therapists offer a free consultation as an opportunity for you to ask questions, explain your current concerns, and decide if it feels like a good fit before scheduling your first appointment. (You can contact me for a consultation here.) This is a great opportunity for you to get a glimpse of what working with an individual counselor or therapist will feel like.

Taking the step of contacting a therapist can feel intimidating. You’ve probably had a lot more practice NOT talking about the anxiety, depression, or trauma that are bringing you to therapy. Making that first call or sending a first message probably feels pretty vulnerable. Take a deep breath. Remember that you are not bothering or annoying the counselor by contacting them. Rather, I am honored every time a prospective client trusts me enough to share their concerns and ask for help. 

Now that you are ready to reach out, what are you supposed to say? Here are my suggestions for talking with a prospective therapist or counselor in Boulder.

Description of the problem

You’ll want to have a brief description of the problem that is leading you to seek therapy, including when the problem started and how it’s affecting you now. If you’ve tried therapy before, you might mention what worked well for you and what didn’t. Think about what feels most important for a prospective counselor or therapist to know about you. A 15-minute conversation is probably not enough time to give a comprehensive description of your experience. Asking yourself, “What was happening when I decided to actually take the step of contacting a counselor?” can help clarify what information is important to share.

Therapist’s approach

If you’ve never been in therapy before, or even if you have, you probably are wondering what to expect from sessions with a prospective counselor or therapist. This is a great thing to ask about in a consultation. Therapists have different approaches to therapy, and these can make quite a difference in your experience of therapy. It is helpful to spend a little time thinking about what kind of experience you would like to have in therapy. Are you hoping to focus on current struggles or problems from the past? Do you want therapy to include homework between sessions? Are you more comfortable with a counselor who directs the course of the session or would you prefer they follow your lead? If you are seeking a specific form of therapy, such as EMDR for trauma, ask if the therapist is able to offer this. 

Therapist’s experience

Ask a prospective therapist or counselor about their experience working with your problem. If you are experiencing anxiety or depression or are looking to address distress related to trauma, you want to make sure your counselor has experience working with these issues. You may also want to ask about the counselor’s experience working with clients like you. Your therapist doesn’t have to share your ethnic, sexual, gender, religious, or other identity in order to be helpful. However, you may feel more comfortable knowing that your counselor has knowledge and experience working with others from your community or culture.

Want more help? 

I hope these suggestions are helpful in finding the best therapist for you in Boulder, CO. If you would like to learn more about how I might help you, feel free to contact me here or call me at (909) 332-2192 for a free 15 minute phone consultation. If you are looking for help with trauma, anxiety, or depression, you can read more about how I can help here.