Questions to Ask a Therapist, Counselor, or Psychologist in San Francisco, California

San Francisco Bay Area, though beautiful and fun, is not always the easiest place to live. Many experience the pressure and enormous expectations. Although there are many psychologists and therapists in the San Francisco Bay area, not all therapists are the same and you want to find the right one for you. Sifting and researching through so many therapists online or through recommendations, you’ve found a few that seem ok and you’re wondering, how to choose who is right for you. Many offer a consultation call, but what should you ask? What should you talk about?

No one really knows what to ask a potential therapist, it’s just not common knowledge. It can feel so awkward and even if you ask a few questions, you don’t know if those are the right questions. Unless you’re a therapist or you’ve interviewed a few therapists before, it’s hard to know what questions to ask when you’re looking for a therapist. And yet, if you don’t ask some important questions, how will you know if they are the right person for you and understand how they will help you? It can get overwhelming. I want to simplify this and help you with some questions that are good to ask a psychologist or therapist in San Francisco that you might want to work with.

The bottom line is that anyone looking for a therapist wants to find someone who will understand them who will care about them and work with them to help them meet their goals they want somebody who knows what they're doing who is experienced and knowledgeable in the field and with the issues that you're dealing with and you want to feel safe and comfortable like you can trust them and you can open up to them without feeling judged.

Questions to ask a Therapist or Psychologist in San Francisco Bay Area, California

·       How long have you been practicing?

·       What are your specialties or areas that you focus on?

·       Do you have any specialized training in any certain treatment?

·       What is your experience in treating the kind of issues that I have?

·       What is your approach to therapy?

·       How often would we meet? How long are the sessions and how long would I be in therapy?

·       What happens in a typical session?

·       Do you see people in person or online?

·       What is your experience working with someone from my cultural/ethnic/minority background?

·       How do you deal with the ways discrimination and racism affect one’s mental health?

·       What are your fees per session? do you take insurance and which insurance do you accept?

·       What is your availability?

·       What is your late cancellation policy?

·       How will we decide my therapy goals?

·       How will we know that therapy is helping me and whether I should continue or not?

Choosing a psychologist in San Francisco shouldn’t be difficult. These questions can help you start a good dialogue with a potential therapist and based on what they say, you will have a better understanding of what it’s like to meet with them. Hopefully this help you find the right therapist in San Francisco Bay Area, California. If you have friends or know anyone who has been considering therapy but don’t know where to start, please pass this on to them. If you have any questions or are interested in a free consultation, contact me here. If I’m the right person to help you, I’d be happy to work with you. If I am not the right person for you, I do my best to help connect you with someone who is right for you.

My specialties include depression, anxiety, work stress, family distress, and life transitions.