Counseling Services

Questions to Ask Prior To Hiring a San Francisco-Based Counselor

People seek counseling for a variety of reasons. Sometimes they are struggling to deal with major upheavals in their lives, sometimes they are having trouble with close relationships, sometimes they are working through drug addictions, and sometimes they are coping with a different issue entirely. No matter why you are interested in seeking treatment from a licensed therapist in San Francisco, you will benefit from reading this guide.

Each of the following paragraphs features a question you should ask when you meet with a new prospective psychotherapy counselor. The responses that various professionals give you will help you figure out which one is the most appropriate person to help you through the issues you're dealing with right now. Hopefully you will feel much more confident about the selection process you're about to go through when you reach the final paragraph.

How Long Have You Worked in This Industry?

While there is certainly nothing wrong with hiring a licensed therapist who has recently begun his or her practice, it is usually best to select an expert who has at least a few years of experience under his or her belt. The more experience a counselor has, you must understand, the more likely he or she is to know about various treatment tactics that a brand new professional may not be aware of at this point in his or her career.  View the site if you have questions about counseling.

Do You Have Any Particular Specialty?

There are many different kinds of psychotherapy in existence these days. Generally, professionals specialize in just one area of the industry. You should seek out assistance from someone who truly understands your present situation. If, for example, you are interested in San Francisco couples counseling, going to a substance abuse counselor isn't likely to help you tremendously. Generally, you can read about counselors' specialties on their websites before you even contact them. This way, you can eliminate professionals who aren't right for you immediately.  Read http://www.britannica.com/topic/Counseling-and-Psychotherapy to understand more about counseling.

What Kind of Treatment Plans Do You Offer?

Every licensed therapist from http://www.therapywithfigs.com creates his or her own treatment options. Some, for example, require their clients to register for at least ten or twelve therapy sessions before they will agree to work with them. Others are willing to let people make appointments one at a time to suit their emotional needs and their schedules. You need to figure out which option fits best with the lifestyle you lead and the results you're looking for.

JULES AVERY SMITH