Questions to ask Before we start Therapy
Many of us ponder upon questions that we may have in our minds, but could find ourselves at crossroads whether to ask them to our Therapist. before the first meeting or throughout the process. It is always easy and helpful to make an informed choice regarding a Mental Health provider if we have the basic questions asked and sorted. A few of them could be:
What is the Qualification of the therapist?
As a Client seeking therapy, it is your right and the obligation of the Therapist to be transparent about their Qualification. In India, A Masters Degree in Counselling/Clinical/Applied Psychology is the bare minimum to practice as a Counselor. A Clinical Psychologist must have a Professional Qualification (2 years in Mphil) in Clinical Psychology recognized by the Rehabilitation Council of India.
Approach and therapy model
The Approaches could range from the basic tenets of Psychoanalysis, CBT, Person-centered to more contemporary-based therapies such as Narrative, Mindfulness, Reality, Constructionist. Therapists usually customize the therapy based on the client’s requirements.
Specialization/ Area of expertise
Psychologists are trained in multiple areas simultaneously for a larger scope of their work. However, like every other profession, each has its own area of expertise. Grief, bereavement, trauma, sexuality, identity, relationships, academics, development, and various other disorders could be their respective specialization.
Fee Structure
Therapists usually have their fees fixed depending on various factors, such as the population they are serving, assessments, duration, etc. Most Therapists today, work on a Sliding Scale structure to accommodate the client’s financial needs, insurances, and income.
Duration: How long is our session for? What happens if we exceed the time?
Usually, the therapy hour ranges from 50 to 60 minutes. This is considered the basic agreeable time spent for individual therapy. In such cases, sometimes, the duration can sometimes exceed the allotted time. It is always recommended to sort such issues and their terms with your therapist before commencing the sessions
What are your Cancellation and rescheduling policy?
Emergencies, from either side bound to lead to cancellations. It is always recommended to clear out the terms in such cases as well as the rescheduling terms.
Do you have Supervision?
This is as essential as training and qualifications. It is recommended in most professional settings to have supervision especially when a therapist is starting fresh. The process enables peer review, protects clients by involving a third party, reduces the risk of oversight as well as facilitating the Therapist to reflect their own emotions, thoughts, behaviour, and the overall therapeutic procedure
The process of seeking therapy can itself prove to be a tiring task. These questions aim to ease the whole process and direct you towards an informed choice.
