It is important to choose a licensed, experienced therapist. However, neither credentials nor experience is a guarantee that your psychotherapist will be able to help you.
The initial weeks of therapy are a time of assessment. You are evaluating your therapist and the therapy process. You are wondering if you can trust your therapist and if it is safe to reveal difficult and painful issues.
Here are some questions to ask yourself:
- Does your therapist hear, understand and accept what you say?
- Does your therapist make comments that help you to see your problems, your relationships and yourself in new and revealing ways?
- Are you beginning to feel known?
- Are you hopeful that you will be helped?
If you can answer yes to a number of these questions you are probably developing a trusting relationship with a competent psychotherapist.
Trust your instincts!