3 questions to ask your therapist in your first session
by Roamers Therapy | July 2020
Life’s challenges can be overwhelming; everyone deserves a space to feel heard and supported. At Roamers Therapy, we provide trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, LGBTQIA+ affirming, and evidence-based environments to help you heal, grow, and navigate your mental well-being journey. As your psychotherapist, we are here to guide you every step of the way.
I can speak from personal experience just how challenging it is to find the right therapist because I never knew what I was searching for. Having a good connection with your therapist is indeed important, but you should be offered a little more than that.
Searching for the right therapist can very much feel like a lot of work, but it is worth the time to find “the one” whom you can trust and work on your goals with. The therapist-client relationship requires a great deal of time to develop an alliance and maintain it. Because of this dynamic, it would be helpful for you to first have an idea of whether your therapist is a good match for you.
In this short guide, you will hopefully find the right questions to ask your therapist in the initial session and how to identify the right therapist for you.
Necessary questions to ask a potential therapist:
- Could you describe your philosophy and therapeutic approach? This question can go a long way for you to understand the therapist’s expectations for the therapeutic relationship between you two, what they may expect from you as their client, and how they plan to work with you as their client.
- Do you have experience working with client issues similar to mine? This question can give you insight into whether your therapist would be able to offer support with your unique set of goals. The key here is that you want to be reassured by the potential therapist that they are capable of working with you.
- How often are you available? Clients may often overlook this one because it does not seem initially important; however, it very much is considering that certain client issues may take more time than others to work through in therapy. Be sure to ask this question if you tend to run on a busy schedule, as it makes a difference to develop a relationship with a therapist whose schedule fits into yours.
You may also want to pay attention to these following signs to evaluate the therapist-client dynamic:
- Their energy feels genuine, warm, and inviting.
- They appear focused and committed to guiding you.
- You feel better and well supported once the session ends.
- They are open minded.
- You do not feel judged.
- They challenge you in a sensitive manner.
While our physical offices are located in South Loop and Lakeview neighborhoods in Chicago, Illinois for in-person sessions, we also welcome and serve clients for online therapy from anywhere in Illinois and Washington, D.C. Clients from the Chicagoland area may choose in-office or online therapy and usually commute from surrounding areas such as River North, West Loop, Gold Coast, Old Town, Lincoln Park, Lake View, Rogers Park, Logan Square, Pilsen, Bridgeport, Little Village, Bronzeville, South Shore, Hyde Park, Back of the Yards, Wicker Park, Bucktown and many more.
At Roamers Therapy, our psychotherapists are here to support you through anxiety, depression, trauma and relationship issues, race-ethnicity issues, LGBTQIA+ issues, ADHD, Autism, or any challenges you encounter. Our psychotherapists are trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Acceptance, and Commitment Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, and Gottman Therapy.
Whether you’re seeking guidance on a specific issue or need help navigating difficult emotions, we’re ready to assist you every step of the way.
Contact us today to learn more about our services and schedule a session with our mental health professionals to begin your healing journey. To get started with therapy, visit our booking page.
First, decide if you’ll be paying out-of-pocket or using insurance. If you’re a self-pay client, you can book directly through the “Book Now” page or fill out the “Self-Pay/Out-of-network Inquiry Form.” If you’re using insurance, fill out the “Insurance Verification Form” to receive details about your costs and availability. Please let us know your preferred therapist. If your preferred therapist isn’t available, you can join the waitlist by emailing us. Once your appointment is confirmed, you’ll receive intake documents to complete before your first session.
This page is also part of the Roamers Therapy Glossary; a collection of mental-health related definitions that are written by our therapists.
While our offices are currently located at the South Loop neighborhood of Downtown Chicago, Illinois, we also welcome and serve clients for online therapy from anywhere in Illinois and Washington, D.C. Clients from the Chicagoland area may choose in-office or online therapy and usually commute from surrounding areas such as River North, West Loop, Gold Coast, Old Town, Lincoln Park, Lake View, Rogers Park, Logan Square, Pilsen, Bridgeport, Little Village, Bronzeville, South Shore, Hyde Park, Back of the Yards, Wicker Park, Bucktown and many more. You can visit our contact page to access detailed information on our office location.