[tkdgirl]

So after doing a bit of thinking, I have decided to give this therapy thing another try. This time I used my EAP and had them book me an appointment with a T. Unlike last time other than a name and location I know nothing about this person. This time I plan to conduct more of an interview and try be upfront with this T, such as asking what her view on intellectual discussions are. Other than the standard questions such as her qualifications, I'm wondering if there is anything else I should specifically ask her? What types of things do you wish you knew about earlier in the process?

[growlycat]

Some therapists do not "do" long term therapy--they are so goal oriented that they miss the "person" in the room!! I also wish I could tell early on how "warm &Fuzzy" my shrink is, I guess no way to know in advance!

[stopdog]

There are a few checklists on the web, maybe even on this site. If it is important to you, put it on the list. Things that come to mind are -outside contact, sliding fees, insurance, answering questions, what happens if you do not know what to talk about (this is a big one for me after one i saw let me sit and shake in total silence for two appointments-i quit at the third), touch, and so forth

[Chopin99]

Exactly where the boundaries lie in areas such as phone calls, emails, emergency contact, physical touch, self-disclosure, etc.
What methodology he/she uses.
How he/she develops goals with the client and how to know when they are met.

None of these things were discussed with my current T until they arose, and I wish we had discussed them in the beginning.

This is off the top of my head...I'll come back if I think of any more.

[CantExplain]

Ask about the balance between challenge and empathy.

Challenge me too little and I won't grow.
Challenge me too much and I'll be crushed.

[gypsy713]

I've been very turned off by therapists who have a "thing" whether it be meditation, assigning self help books, "inner child", 12 step programs, or whatever it is that outlines how they treat each patient. Some of these things may be a nice little extra bonus along the way, but if they use it as a full method to treat, I think it is generally a bad sign. So asking questions about their approach is really important. I like to treat it like an informal job interview for them in a way. Also, have a few ideas about what it is you would like to get out of therapy, if you sort of go in there with a general goal they might be able to give you a outline as far as how they would like to approach the problems.

[tkdgirl]

Originally Posted by growlycat

Some therapists do not "do" long term therapy--they are so goal oriented that they miss the "person" in the room!! I also wish I could tell early on how "warm &Fuzzy" my shrink is, I guess no way to know in advance!

Definitely want to get this done quickly so goal oriented seems like a good thing. And don't need any warm & fuzzy, these are things I didn't necessarily think about, thanks.

Originally Posted by stopdog

There are a few checklists on the web, maybe even on this site. If it is important to you, put it on the list. Things that come to mind are -outside contact, sliding fees, insurance, answering questions, what happens if you do not know what to talk about (this is a big one for me after one i saw let me sit and shake in total silence for two appointments-i quit at the third), touch, and so forth

I didn't even think to search the web for checklists, great suggestion.

[stopdog]

Here is a list from another therapy site(this site has a lot of attachment/trauma focus so the list sort of has that slant):
http://psychcafe.ca/eve/forums/a/tpc...m/961008194001

and I think the psychology today site has a blogger with a list too.

I read a book by a guy (may have been Wallin) who was snotty about a client who came in and sort of interviewed him. He seemed indignant and put out at the idea. So I would add to my list to avoid any therapist who did not realize they are being interviewed for a job and take offense at it. But that is my thing, and is of course not one of the hot buttons for everyone.

I really like a blogger over at Psychology Today who writes sort of a consumer guide for therapy. He has a blog on finding the right therapist: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/...ding-therapist

I've read most of the blog posts he has on that web site and liked them. Lots of useful information, even if I don't agree with all of his stuff.

[CantExplain]

From that website: "Have you ever initiated termination of therapy."

Or as we say in English, "dumped".

[CantExplain]

Originally Posted by stopdog

Here is a list from another therapy site(this site has a lot of attachment/trauma focus so the list sort of has that slant):
http://psychcafe.ca/eve/forums/a/tpc...m/961008194001
.

A lot of these are "trick" questions!

For example: "How do you measure “success” with a client? In your opinion, is therapy ever over?"

The correct answer is: "Therapy has succeeded when the patient feels it has succeeded. The therapy is over when the patient decides it is over."

[stopdog]

Originally Posted by CantExplain

A lot of these are "trick" questions!

For example: "How do you measure “success” with a client? In your opinion, is therapy ever over?"

The correct answer is: "Therapy has succeeded when the patient feels it has succeeded. The therapy is over when the patient decides it is over."

It is just a list to check against the OPs list. Whether one finds the questions are useful or not depends on the person and what info is important to them. I do not find any of them to be "trick" questions - but rather it may be important to see what the t says and how the client then feels about the response. I would hesitate to believe in a universal correct answer. I also would not consider all of the questions in that list to be important to me, but some are.