“How Do I Find the Right Therapist for Me?”

Sometimes the hardest part of asking for help is knowing where to start and who to turn to.

Welcome to another edition of Ask Your Therapist Friend! I’m Kayla, a licensed therapist (LMSW), answering the internet’s questions about mental health, relationships and how to get the most out of going to therapy.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

For many of us, 2020 pushed us over the line toward something we’ve long procrastinated: going to therapy.

If you can’t get a personal referral from a friend, directory sites like TherapyDen.com, PsychologyToday.com, or OpenPathCollective.org are a great way to find a long list of therapists to choose from.

But what makes a therapist “good”, and more importantly, what makes a therapist good for you? As you begin your search, ask yourself these 3 questions to narrow the field:

Question #1: What kind of person can you relax around?

At the end of the day your therapist can only help you with what you share with them. So a huge part of finding the right therapist is reflecting on the kind of person you can see yourself being comfortable with.

Do you want a therapist that feels like a trusted, wise older brother? Perhaps you prefer someone around your age who you can just let loose and…