How to Choose a Therapist: Questions to Help You Begin

Choosing a therapist is a personal decision. The right fit is not only about a title or a particular approach; it is also about whether you can imagine having an honest, respectful conversation with that person.

It can help to begin with the practical questions. Do you want to meet in person, online, or both? Which locations are realistic for you? What times and frequency of sessions would be manageable? Clear answers make it easier to focus on the therapeutic relationship itself.

It is reasonable to ask about a therapist’s training, professional registration, approach and experience. A therapist should be able to explain how they work in everyday language, including what confidentiality means and how they handle its limits.

You may also want to ask what a first conversation is like, whether there is space to discuss what you are looking for, and how you would review the work together. Therapy is collaborative; you do not need to arrive with a complete explanation of everything that is difficult.

Trust your experience of the conversation. Feeling nervous before a first session is common, but you should not feel pressured to continue. If the fit does not feel right, it is okay to say so or to look for someone else. Finding the right support can take time.

If you choose to contact me, you are welcome to ask about in-person sessions in Brighton and South London, online therapy, or sessions in English and Russian. We can use an initial conversation to consider whether working together would be helpful.