Questions to ask a Psychotherapist New York

So, you’ve been googling psychotherapists in New York, and you’re ready to call them for their consultations to see if it’s a good fit. But what should you say? What information is helpful to know ahead of time?

Questions to ask a Psychotherapist in New York

It can be tough to know what’s ok to ask. There may be things you want to know, but you’re afraid to pry or ask them. But it’s essential to find out if a therapist will be a good fit for you! You’re interviewing your therapist for a good match as much as they are interviewing you to ensure they can give you the best quality of care.

I’m here to help you get clarity. Here are #6 questions to ask a psychotherapist in New York before you commit to working with them:

Question #1: Do you have experience working with the issues I am looking for help with?

This is one of the first questions to ask a therapist when you’re on their consultation call. You’ll know someone is the right fit not only based on how you feel during the conversation (Do you feel like they get you? Do you feel seen and heard?) but if they have experience with the issues you’re coming to therapy to resolve. You can ask about their background, training, and the last time they worked with a client who struggled with your issues. I specialize in gender & LGBTQ issues, and trauma, and have 10+ years of experience with body image, anxiety, ADHD, depression, and addiction. If you’re unsure about what to call your issues, reach out to someone whose words speak to you. I often help people find the words to express their struggles in a way that they couldn’t when they first called. So don’t be afraid to just talk about examples from your life.

Question #2: What are your fees? Do you take insurance?

Asking about fees and insurance is necessary for today’s therapy world. While many people look for a therapist who accepts insurance, it can sometimes be challenging to find. Working with insurance companies is often a frustrating process, challenging to be paneled on, and they usually do not pay well for the services therapists provide. I tell you this because I’m often asked why I don’t take insurance, and I want to be very clear that it is not to restrict access to my practice. Many providers do take insurance and are happy to process your claims. I provide paperwork so that clients can use their Out-Of-Network benefits to get reimbursement from insurance.

Question #3: How long are sessions? How frequent are sessions? For how long do you typically work with clients?

Session length can vary anywhere from 45-90 minutes, depending on the style, modality, and type of treatment. Individual sessions in my practice are 45 minutes long, and couples sessions are anywhere from 60-90 minutes. I have worked with clients for several years since I love moving someone from their initial crisis stage into deeper work around issues that span their lifetime. But you get to decide what is right for you! If you’re looking to focus on a specific topic, shorter-term therapy can be helpful. If you have more generalized concerns or struggle in multiple areas, longer-term therapy might be a better fit.

Question #4: What is a typical session like?

Knowing more about a typical session can let you know if you’re interested in their services. I often use traditional talk therapy with my clients and either body-based (somatic) exercises or education around the neuroscience behind what is happening with our bodies and emotions. But the great thing is that I can offer many different tools like CBT, DBT, art, or yoga. Find out what tools a therapist uses during sessions, if they’re active within the session, or if they are more of an active listener. I find a combination of both to be helpful since many of my clients find feedback and questions useful in exploring their issues on a deeper level.

Question #5: How long have you been practicing?

Ask this question if experience or time in the field is important to you. It can be helpful to know if someone has just been through school (which offers the benefit of being up-to-date on the most recent research in the field) or if someone has been working with a particular community for a long time (experience and additional training are helpful indicators of commitment to the field and best practices). For example, I have been practicing for 10+ years in the areas of trauma, addiction, and gender/sexuality, and I’m committed to hiring recently graduated clinicians so they can benefit from my training and education.

Question #6: Do you have a therapist or supervisor/have you ever been in therapy?

This is a fundamental question — therapists should have had the experience of being a client. This can let you know if your therapist is committed to their self-inquiry and has space to talk about their own lives (we don’t want those things coming into your session!). After a certain level of licensure, not all therapists are required to have a supervisor, but it can also indicate that they have a space to ensure they are getting the best outcomes for clients. I have both a therapist and a supervisor, and I don’t disclose specific client details to them.

I hope this helps you find the right psychotherapist in New York. If you are feeling stuck, call me at (347) 699-2694 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 trauma, anxiety, depression, gender, or LGBTQ issues, you can read more about how I can help here.