This page was written by Lawrence J. Murphy,
Senior Counsellor at Therapy Online

How to Find a Face-to-Face Counsellor

Choosing a counsellor can be a confusing and overwhelming task. But I believe I can help you make the task a little easier.

Once you know what you are looking for, finding the right person is fairly straightforward. So before you pull out the telephone yellow pages, ask yourself a few questions, such as:

• What are the concerns that I want to talk to a counsellor about?
• Do I prefer a particular therapeutic approach? (It's ok if you don't know).
• Are there certain times of the day or week that would suit me best for appointments?
• Can the fees be covered through my insurance, health care plan, employee assistance program, or compensation program?

When you know what you want, you can try the blue pages government listings under "Mental Health." If available in your area, these services are usually free. Otherwise go to index at the end of the yellow pages and look up "Counsellors."  If you are in a major city, your index probably lists several categories of counsellors. Go to the category that seems most appropriate and choose two or three practitioners. Call them. Tell each one your concerns and/or your goals, and ask the practitioner if he or she is skilled in these areas. I encourage you to ask the counsellor these questions as well:

• "What are your professional qualifications and credentials?" (A qualified counsellor is a professional with a master's degree or higher from a recognized university. You can ask to see their university degree and enquire about where they did their supervised practice and how long they've been in practice.)
• "Are you registered with, or a member of a professional association?" (It is in your best interests if your counsellor is a member of an association to which he/she is accountable. This association should have a code of ethics and grant certification based on high standards of training and education.)
• "What therapeutic approaches and techniques do you usually use?" (You should feel confident that your counsellor has the expertise and necessary training or area of specialization to help you with your specific problems.)
• "Will there be an opportunity after the first or after a few sessions to talk about how things are going and whether to continue?" (A professional and caring counsellor welcomes your feedback and asks you how you feel the counselling process is going.)
• "What arrangements can be made for paying fees? What are your expectations of payment if I have to cancel or miss an appointment?" (A professional counsellor should be able to describe office policy to you, including the session fees, method of payment, the policy regarding missed appointments, the length of each session and how to reach them or crisis support in case of an emergency.)
• "Do you have a waiting list? If so, how long will I have to wait before the first appointment?" (Your counsellor should be able to clearly explain any wait time, and his or her availability for regular appointments.)

After talking with a practitioner, ask yourself:

• Did I feel a sense of confidence in this person?
• Did I feel listened to, understood?
• Did his or her approach make sense to me?

If you decide to go to face-to-face counselling, I wish you all the best!

Good-bye.

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