How to Choose a Therapist (In Las Vegas)
Written by Ryan Greenwood
Starting to see a therapist can oftentimes be a daunting task. Finding someone who is a good fit often requires a bit of research and calling/ emailing around, which can be emotionally draining in itself, even if you weren’t dealing with whatever your presenting issue might be. Successfully choosing a therapist you can be confident is an important part of healing and can be relatively simple when you know what to look for.
What Should I Look For in a Therapist?
Your Comfort Level, First and Foremost
The number one determiner of success in therapy is probably not what you might initially think. It is not your therapist sharing the same gender as you, it is not the therapist has a similar background to yours, and it is not even the approach the therapist uses in the counseling process. The number one determiner of successful goal attainment in therapy is you feel comfortable with your therapist and you have confidence in their abilities. If you feel your therapist is someone you can work well with and you can trust 100%, chances are you have found a good fit.
Usually, it takes at least one face-to-face session to determine how comfortable you are with any particular therapist, although speaking over the phone can provide some insight as well. Pay attention to the way you feel during your first session. It certainly is normal to feel nervous, but did the therapist’s presence put you at ease? Did you feel respected and valued by them? Did you feel you could trust them? These are all great questions to ask before really setting out to do the therapeutic work together. we would like or than we expect. As such, seeking counseling when things are going well oftentimes can help predict and prevent those times of feeling in a funk. The good news is even if you are currently in a funk, therapy can greatly benefit you in getting back to some stable ground. Plus, there is good reason to believe you will learn strategies and principles will help to keep the next low from being quite so low.
Has the therapist helped people in situations similar to yours?
A second indication a therapist may be helpful to you is their successful track record with similar issues to whatever you might be seeking therapy for. While a therapist is legally obligated not to go into much detail about other clients, they should be able to give you a general idea of their experience level with similar situations, specifically whether or not they have been able to be helpful to other clients. Check a therapist’s website to see if you can find specific issues they can skillfully address, as well as any content the therapist may have written on the topic.
Check Their Photo If Possible
Most therapists will have their photos listed on their website or a professional directory. Often times, this on its own is not enough to determine if a therapist is a good fit, but sometimes it is enough to determine if you would rather work with someone else. Trust your gut intuition, if something seems off, it may be a sign you are better off with another therapist. Personally, I would view selfies, glamour shots, or photos of therapist participating in their hobbies as red flags. Your therapist doesn’t need to look like a supermodel, but it does need to be someone you could easily see yourself comfortably talking to for an hour.
Warning Signs
Their office is cluttered and unkempt
Therapy is a place of healing and peace and the environment should reflect this. You should not feel uneasy or distracted when entering their office. While this may seem fairly basic, I have seen offices with empty soda cans and other trash littering the floor.
Communication around setting up the initial appointment was confusing or lacking
Finding a therapist can certainly be emotionally draining, especially if communication around setting up the first meeting together is unclear or difficult. You want to find someone who it is easy to communicate with right out of the gate.
They kept talking about themselves during your time together.
While there may a time and a place for a therapist to talk about their own experience, therapy is about you, the client. If you find a therapist keeps bringing up irrelevant stories or details from their own life, it can take the focus off the reason why you decided to seek out therapy in the first place.
They make you feel judged or unsafe
For you to heal, you need to first feel safe. If a therapist makes you feel judged or in any way unsafe, this should be a big red flag. Both you and your therapist are a team when it comes to reaching the goals you may set for yourself. If you have a teammate who consistently makes you feel uncomfortable, it may be a sign to move on to someone else.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, the therapy process is about you and your experiences. The therapist's role is to create a safe place for you and to help guide you in the process, not to actually solve your problems for you. At the end of the day, if you feel you can trust your therapist and they will be able to help you, commit to the process and begin your journey toward healing.
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Ryan Greenwood, CPC, MA
Ryan is the founder and clinical director of Hello Therapy. He graduated at the top of his class from Adams State University with a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, is a member of the American Counseling Association, and has a great passion for working with people to grow in the middle of their hardest moments.
