Gillian Hammond, Licensed Mental Health Counselor-D

Making the choice to start therapy can be challenging - it's not always easy to set aside time to take care of yourself. Choosing the right therapist, and making sure you really connect with that person, can sometimes mean the difference between following through on your commitment to self-care or changing your mind. Clients often find that their relationship with the therapist, including feeling comfortable and supported, is the most important aspect of therapy. When you're looking for a therapist to work with, think about what qualities you're hoping to find. Are you looking for someone to listen and be supportive - to hold space for you to explore your thoughts? To validate your concerns and experiences? Someone to ask questions and guide you through the session? Someone to point out specific patterns and behaviors, or hold you accountable to following through on making changes in your life? Many therapists offer free initial phone consultations, which is a good opportunity for you as the client to ask questions of the therapist, and make sure that this is someone you can see yourself feeling comfortable working with. I encourage clients to take advantage of free consultations, and to continue engaging in open communication throughout therapy about what is helpful in treatment, as well as what clients may want to change about sessions.