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You should research and interview a therapist the same way you check out a company you might work for.

A good therapist will ask you about your goals.

A good therapist will suggest between-session work as well as be helpful in session.

If you don't "click" with the person, look for someone else.

Let’s assume that you’re about to meet with a potential counselor or therapist. It is best to think of this initial meeting—whether it be a 10-minute free phone call or a paid-for first session—as an interview. Most coaches advise you to interview the company that is interviewing you. You are considering working there. Is it a good fit?

Of course, they are interviewing you because they are looking for someone to fill a vacancy. That’s their goal. But you need to keep your goal in mind, too. When meeting a therapist for the first time, ask yourself, "Will this be a good therapist to work with?"

What do you think of their online presence?

Before the meeting with a potential therapist—whether by phone, Zoom, or doxy.me (a HIPAA-compliant platform like Zoom)—check them out online. You can read their Psychology Today and LinkedIn profiles, and you can look at and read some or all of the material they have on their website.

What do you think? Are there any “red flags,” things that cause you to wonder, “Can I work with this person?”

Are there any “red flags” in their online presence?

In the description of their practice, do they seem to suggest that they can “treat” everything—e.g., anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, PTSD, eating disorders, etc.? Research suggests that no therapist or counselor is good at working with every type of problem. In one study of twelve kinds of problems, most therapists were good at treating six. Some weren’t very good at any, and some did harm, so it is reasonable to be careful.

Other aspects of what you read online may be orange or red flags. For example, frequent errors in writing may suggest a lack of care and attention to detail, which could understandably make you wonder how careful they are with confidentiality and record........

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