Do therapists ask a lot of questions?
Most good therapists avoid questions, most of the time. Questions take over the conversation. "Talk about what I want to hear about, please." They’re a little too bossy, most of the time, though once in a while they can be illuminating.
Can you interview a therapist before you pick them?
If you ask good, relevant questions, you’ll learn plenty and probably get a good feel for how it would be to work with this person.
How many appointments does it take to know if a therapist is a good fit?
Unlike dating, therapy is a relationship for a carefully managed, well-boundaried single hour every week or so, with a person who’s trained and who has experience in doing what they’re doing, probably for thousands of hours, without getting into too much trouble.
Are kids too young to understand therapy?
We saw kids four and up, many of them victims of abuse and neglect, long term. Other kids came as part of family therapy, and still other had various issues that concerned their parents or professionals.
How does my therapist read me so well despite only a few years of experience? Is this a learned skill?
Training and experience certainly count, but if you are fortunate enough to have a therapist with particular talents that suit you and your issues? A great gift.
How do you know when someone is really ready for therapy? Or do you just assume they’re ready because they walked in the door?
The therapist is the one who has to be ready. Calm, clear, open, attentive, and ready for the person who walked in the door. No assumptions, no judgments, just unconditional presence.