Before You Start Looking
Now is the time to decide what you want. Do you prefer a male or female counselor? Do you want to do brief work, or do you want or expect to be in counseling for a longer period of time? Maybe you want your family involved. You’ll want to have these questions answered ahead of time so that you can ask for what you want.
When you have decided on these questions and start calling counselors, there are many more questions you can ask. Here are several to think about.
Training and Experience
- Are you licensed? If not, do you have training and qualifications that are appropriate for working with me?
- What is your degree? From where?
- How long have you been in practice?
Appointments
- When are you available for appointments?
- How long is an appointment? How often would we meet?
- What is a normal appointment like?
- What is your cancellation policy (many therapists require you to pay the appointment fee if you cancel within 24 hours of your appointment time, and some require 48 or even 72 hours)?
Some counselors offer a free consultation to allow a face-to-face meeting. It’s a good idea to take advantage of this service.
Financial Issues
- What is your fee?
- Do you have a sliding scale so that my fee can be based on my income?
- Do you take my medical insurance (note that you can check to see whether the counselor is on your insurance company’s preferred provider list)?
In addition, some counselors offer package deals if you pay up front for several sessions. Whether there is a discount or not, paying in advance has the added benefit of making you feel more invested in the process.
Specialties
- In what do you specialize?
- How much experience do you have with eating disorders?
- How does your work with eating disorder clients differ from the work other therapists do?
Outside Resources
- Will you be consulting with others about my case? If so, with whom? How do you maintain my confidentiality?
- Do you work with doctors, nutritionists, and others in cases like mine?
Most counselors, even the experienced ones, engage in some form of regular consultation with a supervisor or consultation group. This gives the counselor more ways to think about treatment with you and improves the level of care.
Your Sense of Connection
Perhaps most important is your sense of safety and connection with the counselor. Does it feel “right” to you? Will you feel comfortable asking for changes in your therapy if needed? If you don’t feel safe, it probably isn’t a good match.
Keep in mind that discomfort in counseling is normal. But discomfort and feeling unsafe are different. It's important to speak openly about what you like and don’t like. The counselor should be comfortable talking about things that concern you.
