How To Interview A Therapist

Looking for a therapist can be daunting. It’s difficult to discern whether a therapist is a good match for your needs just by reading a profile.

When possible, it’s a good idea to interview a few therapists before making your choice. Fortunately, many therapists offer a brief complimentary consultation to give you an initial sense of how they would approach working with you.

To help you get the most out of your initial meeting, we offer the following suggestions.

Preparing for the Consultation


Here are some questions to consider before you talk to a therapist:

  • What do I want to accomplish in therapy? What are my goals?

  • Am I unsure of what I want or even if I want therapy? (It’s okay to not know what you want or have mixed feelings about approaching therapy!)

  • Am I in need of immediate assistance?

  • Am I most interested in dealing with a current concern?

  • Do I want to work on underlying emotions or patterns?

  • Are there any particular therapeutic approaches am I drawn to?

  • How important is it that the therapist have similar values, race, spiritual beliefs, sexual or gender orientation, or life experience to mine?

  • Do I want to see a therapist virtually or in person?

  • When am I available and what locations work best for me?

  • Can I afford therapy? Do I need to use insurance to offset the cost?

You may want to jot down some notes before your consultation. During the meeting however, try to focus on getting a feel for the counselor, as well as the content of your discussion with them. Then after the meeting you can spend a few minutes writing down your impressions.

During the Consultation

Think of an initial consultation as a fact-finding mission as well as an opportunity to get a sense of the “chemistry.” You’re interviewing counselors as a way to get a feel for what they have to offer and how you would work together in therapy. Letting a therapist know of your hopes, goals, and concerns, as well as any fears or mixed feelings, gives you an opportunity to get valuable feedback that will clarify your search.

Here are some questions you may want to ask during the meeting:

  • I’m hoping to work on “x, y, and z” issues. How much experience do you have in these areas? How would you work with me on these issues?

  • What is your therapeutic approach or style?

  • What is your training and experience?

  • What is your fee? (And if necessary, “Do you offer an adjusted fee? How does that work? “).

  • Do you take insurance and how does that work?

  • Do you have experience working with my ________(e.g. age group, sexual or gender orientation, religious affiliation, race, ethnic or cultural background, etc.)?

  • Would you be open to meeting for (say) three sessions and then re-evaluating whether we want to work together?

Also, each therapist has a Disclosure Statement on file that you can request. It details their training, credentials, treatment philosophy, and office policies.

After the Consultation

Here are some questions you may want to ask yourself after the consultation:

  • What were my first impressions of this therapist?

  • How did I feel as I was leaving the meeting?

  • Did they seem to understand what my concerns are? Did I feel respected, listened to, understood, empowered, accepted?

  • Did I get a sense of how we would proceed if I select them to be my therapist?

  • Do I have a sense that the counselor will treat my views and values respectfully? (It may not be a good idea to be in therapy with someone who has strong views about something that is a source of confusion for you.)

  • Was I able to direct the conversation if I wanted to? Did I feel comfortable asking the questions I wanted to ask?

  • How did the environment/room feel?

Exploring these questions will help you clarify your thoughts and feelings about the interview and make a more informed choice.