Question 6 – Have you ever been to therapy yourself? 

I will tell you right now – the answer to this question should be yes. Every single therapist should go to therapy for him-/herself. If we believe counseling is helpful then we also recognize we sometimes need support. I would be extremely suspect of a therapist who has not been in therapy. How on earth could they understand what it’s like for you to walk through that door and share your struggles if they haven’t done it?

Question 7 – What license(s) and/or certifications do you have? What state(s) are you licensed in?

As shocking as this may sound, not all states require therapists to be licensed. If you want to see someone licensed or your insurance will only pay/reimburse someone licensed you need to know this information. Certifications, while not required, are helpful in understanding any specific areas of expertise for that therapist. Some locations offer therapy at reduced cost through interns. Interns can be wonderful (ours are and our clients LOVE them!), but you will also want to ask how they are supervised and how any issues would be addressed.

Question 8 – Do you take a religious or spiritual approach and, if so, what does that look like?

Some clients really want their religious beliefs and spirituality to be part of a session, while others like to know the therapist understands their faith. Some clients want no spirituality or religious perspective included.

Question 9 – Do you see people only at your office or do you offer video/phone sessions?

Research shows video sessions can be just as helpful as in-person sessions. That said, not all clients prefer that while others love it. The college-age individuals we see love the option of a video session so they can fit therapy into their schedule. Being able to do video or phone sessions are also a great option when it snows in Wake Forest! We know all things close here when that happens, but you don’t have to miss your therapy appointment with us!

Question 10 – What do you charge and do you accept insurance? 

Obviously you’ll need this information to make sure the therapist is a good fit. If you absolutely have to use insurance for therapy then you’ll want to ask if they are in network with your insurance provider. Don’t assume they are – the insurance landscape is pretty complicated and not all therapist take all plans and some take no insurance at all.

Final Thoughts

The last thing to really consider is how you felt talking to the counselor in Wake Forest NC. Did the therapist call you at the time scheduled (if you scheduled one)? Did they seem distracted? Did you feel at ease? Did you feel understood? Did you feel like they answered your questions fully?

All these things can help you find an amazing counselor in Wake Forest that will work for you and we hope we’ve helped you with some questions to ask a potential counselor. If you’d like to find out more about working with us, feel free to reach out at 919-891-0525 to schedule your free, 15-minute consultation. We’d love to see if we are a great fit for you and help you!

The post 5 More Questions to Ask a Counselor in Wake Forest NC appeared first on Tabitha Westbrook.

Question 1 – How often do you work with clients like me who are struggling with…? 

Hopefully it was obvious from their website they have experience with what you need, but how often do they work with people like you? If you’re struggling with anxiety how often do they see clients with anxiety? If you’re recovering from past abuse, how often do they work with clients who’ve experienced abuse? This should be an easy answer for a therapist. If you’re looking for help with depression and find the therapist you’ve contacted only ever worked with one client with depression you might want to consider whether they are the best fit for what you need.

Question 2 – What is your general approach to counseling? 

Whatever they say should fit for you. If they say, “During sessions we color the entire time as we talk” and that isn’t a style that gels with you the therapist may not be a good fit. On the other hand, that may sound amazing and exactly what you’re looking for!

Question 3 – Are you more directive or less directive?

There is not right or wrong answer here – it’s what works best for you. If you need a therapist who’s a bit more directive that style will work better for you. If you absolutely hate feeling controlled, very directive may not be ideal. Another part of this question is how are they directive or less directive. What does that mean to them and how does it look? Ask for some specific examples. “Directive” can mean different things to different people so getting more information on what that looks like from the therapist is super helpful.

Question 4 – How often are appointments? 

This is going to vary by therapist. Depending on the style of a therapist and the issues facing the client, there could be a different rhythm. For example, a therapist who sees primarily children may see the child one week and the parent/caregiver the following week. Also, ask why the therapist sees people at those intervals. We see clients weekly because research shows that is how you feel better the fastest and how you create lasting change.

Question 5 – What is a typical session like and how long are sessions? 

This can give you an idea of the rhythm of a counseling session. If the counselor you called only does 90-minute sessions and you’re hoping they’ll see your 5-year-old you might want to get more information because that’s a long session for a little kiddo! If you’re looking for marriage counseling and the sessions are only 45 minutes long how are they structured so the work can get done?

We hope these first five questions help you get started with a counselor in Wake Forest, NC. Next time we’ll cover five more questions to help you determine if a therapist is the best fit for you. If you’d like to find out more about working with us, feel free to reach out at 919-891-0525 to schedule your free, 15-minute consultation. We’d love to see if we are a great fit for you and help you get your journey back to joy started!

The post Counselor in Wake Forest NC – What do I ask? appeared first on Tabitha Westbrook.

1. What do I need?

Starting with what you need is important. Do you feel like you’re always about to jump out of your skin because you’re so anxious? Did you experience something terrible that still haunts you? Is your marriage or intimate relationship dying on the vine? Are you struggling to handle your strong emotions and, because of that, struggling to make and keep friends or even struggling to keep a job? Knowing a little about what you need will help you find a therapist or counselor that can help you address your problems.

2. Where do I look?

There are many great places to look for a therapist on the internet. You can check Psychology Today or Good Therapy directories. Each directory allows you to sort by various issues or styles of therapist. You can also do a simple Google search like, “Couples counselors near Wake Forest, NC.”

Friends also can be an amazing resource. Do they know anyone? Can they make a recommendation?

3. How do I pick from the ones I found? There are SO MANY OF THEM!

Some areas have a strong therapeutic presence, which is great! But that means picking the one for you can pose a challenge. Start by reading their descriptions on their Psychology Today or Good Therapy pages. Click through to websites of the ones that interest you. Does it look like they have expertise in the area where you need support? Make a list of the top 4-5 that look like they may be a good fit.

4. Okay, I have a list, now what? Call or email these therapists. Ask questions like:

What kinds of issues do you help people with?

What type of training do you have?

What does counseling look like with you?

What are your rates? Do you accept insurance? If so, how does that work? If not, what are payment options?

When emailing, be mindful of what you share since not all email is secure. If you want to share details about what is going on for you a phone call is more appropriate.

5. What else do I do while talking?

While you’re gathering information, notice how you feel while talking to the therapist. Do you feel comfortable? Do you feel like he/she understands what you’re sharing? Do you get the sense that he/she can help you? If you feel like the therapist just does not get you then that may not be the right therapist for you. You need to feel comfortable sharing what’s going on for you so finding a therapist with whom you gel is really important.

6. I talked to therapists, now what do I do?

Now it’s time to make an appointment! You can do that by calling your preferred person back, sending an email, or even using their online scheduling tool if they have one.

What if I go to my first session and realize, “This person isn’t a fit after all?”

Find someone else. That is a-ok. A good therapist will understand and will even help you find someone that’s a better fit.

I hope this helps you find the right therapist in the Wake Forest or Rolesville area. If you are still feeling stuck, feel free to call me at (919) 891-0525 for a free, 15-minute phone consultation. I’d be happy to hear about what is happening and help direct you to the right person. If you are looking for help with anxiety, traumatic events, or your marriage, you can read more about how I can help here and here.

The post Finding a therapist in the Wake Forest and Rolesville Area appeared first on Tabitha Westbrook.