Checklist for Choosing a Therapist

Your personal rapport with your therapist is a key factor in the success of your sessions. The person you choose should be qualified, but, in addition, you must feel comfortable providing the kind of detailed and intimate information required for a productive outcome.

Seek personal referrals, if possible.

Interview two or three professionals in your area.

Research the office staff:

Will you have easy access to the doctor?
Are calls answered immediately or do you have to navigate through a voicemail maze?
Is the staff friendly, sensitive and discrete?

Ask about these credentials:

Doctorate or master’s degree from a reputable institution.
Certification in a specialty area from an accredited and nationally-recognized organization.
Supervised clinical training.
Experience with helping others in similar situation to your own.

Determine if it’s a good match:

Is it someone who makes you feel understood and accepted?
Are they able to provide feedback and interaction that is meaningful?
Is this the therapeutic relationship and environment that can help you with life changes and life enhancement?

When seeking sex therapy, find out if the therapist has:

A sound knowledge of the anatomical and physiological bases of the sexual response.
Completed post graduate training in such areas as sexual function and dysfunction, sex counseling and sex therapy.
Expertise in relationship counseling and psychotherapy.
A strict code of ethics.