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Frequently Asked Questions What are some important questions I should ask a clinician before I schedule an appointment? In addition to questions about the 'business' aspects of psychology services, such as fees, billing information, convenience of location of office and available times for therapy appointments, ask questions to ensure an appropriate match to the kind of psychologist you are looking for, based on the psychologist's style, training and experience. Psychologists develop expertise in a variety of areas, and you should seek someone whose experience fits your needs. Has the psychologist worked successfully with persons with problems similar to your own? What approach to therapy does the psychologist take for your particular problem area? Does the psychologist ask many questions or wait for you to bring up the topics to discuss? Does the psychologist work primarily with children, adolescents, or adults? Individuals, couples, or families? Also, consider whether factors such as gender, age, and cultural factors are important to you when choosing a therapist. Certainly, there are other questions that will arise as you seek a therapist. Some of the questions will be important enough to you to ask prior to setting an appointment, and others can be asked in the course of the first assessment appointment or even after therapy is well underway. Remember to give yourself the 'ok' to ask questions that are important to you. |