Yes. It is Important for you to know that we are qualified to listen to your concerns and meet your needs. It is equally important for both of us that there is a connection between us. Having a strong therapeutic alliance will have a larger positive effect on the treatment outcome for you.

• Personality Fit
• Experience
• Specialty
• Cost
• Scheduling
• Online vs In-Person
• Specific Life Stages or Cultural Backgrounds

There is a difference between the two. Therapists are professionals trained to help people get through personal difficulties. Psychiatrists, on the other hand, prescribe medication and are not typically trained to provide therapy. So be aware, if you’re looking for a therapist, you would most likely be looking for someone that labels themselves as a psychologist, psychotherapist, counselor, clinician, or even social worker. If you or your therapist think medication may be helpful, you would also look for a psychiatrist that could work together with your therapist.

The best therapists know their strengths and limitations, their overall philosophy toward mental health and approach to helping others. Based on your personality, they should be definitive in directing and guiding their approach.

Ask yourself:

• Do I feel reasonably OK with this person? Feeling totally comfortable isn't the best criteria. If you're too comfortable, you're just chitchatting. You’re not there to make friends. You’re there to find solutions for you.

• Is the therapist really listening to you? Is he or she asking enough questions? In the first important sessions, your therapist should be asking questions, to become acquainted with you and the concerns you’re dealing with.

Therapy can be helpful in many different circumstances. A good rule of thumb: if the concern you’re facing interferes with your day-to-day ability to function at your best, then you’ll likely find therapy a useful part of the solution.

That is perfectly fine. There are times a client needs psychotropic medication to regain mental health chemical balance, or to get them through a form of trauma that is difficult for their brains to process. We fully recommend that in addition to medication you incorporate talk therapy to gain the tools necessary to assist you if/when those times arise in your life again. That way, you are better equipped to process what is happening.

We respect your privacy. If we see someone in public, we typically will not acknowledge you until you acknowledge us. We will take cues from you on how to interact. We err on the side of caution when interacting with clients outside of session, in part due to unfortunate stigmas associated with mental health.

• https://community.therapyforblackgirls.com/
• https://www.naapimha.org/
• https://www.wernative.org/
• https://blackmentalhealth.com/connect-with-a-therapist/
• https://providers.therapyforblackgirls.com/
• https://www.therapyforlatinx.com/

Be prepared to ask questions; don’t be afraid to ask what you want. More importantly, be you, your authentic self.

Be prepared to set goals and boundaries for yourself. Goals are your roadmaps for what you want out of life, not what your therapist wants. Their role is to help you make sense of and accomplish those goals. On the other hand, boundaries simply put are things that you are not ready to discuss, and it is okay to tell your therapist that so they won’t assume that you are stonewalling or holding back significant information that could help them, help you. Ground rules are standards set by the therapist, i.e., things that are in the therapist disclosure statement.

Nothing is off limits. Although the client must understand what is required of the therapist regarding reporting laws; this is normally discussed during the first session. On another note, holding back in therapy is not beneficial. However, there may be things you are simply not ready to discuss, and that is OK to say that.