You’ll have the best chance for a productive experience in therapy if you are an informed consumer working in a structured manner and environment with a trained professional. You’re smart to think about prepping yourself a little.
Before you go:
Think about what you hope to achieve from seeing a professional. At least start to identify some tentative goals. For instance: decrease my anxiety, communicate with people better, stop procrastinating, deal with my anger, stop drinking so much. In one sentence, can you state why you are going to a therapist? Even if the answer is “my wife/boss/friends think I should see a shrink,” that’s fine. Another way of putting that last statement: “Important people in my life feel that I have a problem that is affecting me and them adversely. I may not be quite sure what their problem with me is, but I am willing to explore what I could do better in my relationship (life, marriage...).”
Spend some time thinking about your strengths! Can you think of a concise way to describe yourself? If you’re having trouble coming up with anything, ask yourself: “What do people say I’m good at? Is there something I’m especially proud of?”
In the first meeting:
Questions to ask the therapist (if he/she doesn’t volunteer information in the session):
“What will we do here? What’s a session like? How long does it last?
“What is the cost ? What are your policies about payment?”
Like doctors, therapists usually expect to be paid after each session. Some take insurance; others don’t. Some have a sliding scale, depending on your financial situation.
“What is your training? Credentials?”
Generally, in NYC, at the minimum the therapist should have an advanced degree (master’s or doctorate) and be licensed. Licenses are issued by the New York State Department of Education which publishes parameters for practice and ethical standards that anyone can review on its website. A license assures a standard for educational and professional achievement.
“Do you have previous experience with my kind of problem? Any specialized training?”
For instance, there are addiction and ADHD specialists.
“What is your feeling about medications for treating mental health?”
Be cautious about therapists who come across as too anti-medication. This is an area, whatever your personal feelings and opinions, where modern science has made great advances. A moderate perspective balancing positive and negative results is preferable.
“If something comes up that you can’t handle (prescribing medication, a specialized problem—traumatic brain injury, say), what is your referral process?”
Good professionals will have a multi-disciplinary network of other mental health professionals, and because your health is their top priority, they will be open to referring you.
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