Choosing a Counselor

There are several “for sures” involved in searching for someone who will share a very special relationship with you. These are:

someone who is qualified to see you (advanced mental health degree, licensed to practice, several years of experience, is trained to work with your problem or set of issues, and someone who you can afford to see often enough to set you on the road to change)

But an additional one and one I feel most often sets the stage for successful counseling is, can I trust this person? Yes, you might agree, but how do I know this right at the beginning? One pretty positive indication that you are with someone you can trust is to share something personal with this therapist and see how the therapist “holds” that information, how what you shared is treated by this person. Was it treated with respect, with sensitivity, and did it give you a feeling of safety with this person. It’s not necessary to reveal your deepest, darkest secret, just something that’s close to you and has importance to you. You can trust your intuitive self on this one.