10 Questions to Ask Your Therapist

Disclaimer: Not everyone has the luxury of choosing their therapist. If you’re in a situation where you must work with someone due to external factors, you can still ask these questions to help determine how much trust to place in their guidance.

Not sure where to begin? Here are 10 questions you might ask during your first session. Any ethical and competent therapist should be able to answer these with ease:

1. Do you see a therapist regularly?

2. Are there populations you feel less comfortable working with?

3. What is your policy if I feel uncomfortable, unsafe, or upset with something you say during a session?

4. What specialized training in trauma do you have?

5. How will I know if therapy is working?

6. How will I know when it’s time to stop our work together, and what is your policy for termination?

7. What is your stance on me working with another therapist? (A good answer should be, “Do what’s best for you.”)

8. What are your self-care practices?

9. What are your boundaries around self-disclosure?

10. What types of continuing education classes do you typically take?