Questions to ask a therapist in San Jose, CA

When you google “San Jose California therapist” you get a long list of therapists to choose from. But how do you know who the right therapist is for you?  How do you narrow down the field with someone who will get you and your concerns?   And they all offer a 15 minute consultation.  How do you know what to ask in the consultation to know who is the best therapist for you?  

Questions to ask a Therapist in San Jose, CA

Searching for a therapist feels like a momentous job when you are feeling your best, but even bigger when you are on the struggle bus.  It can feel overwhelming, painful and stressful.  The right person for you is out there and I am here to help you find that great fit.  You will find below a list of questions to ask when you are interviewing a therapist in San Jose, CA.  

Question #1: Do you have therapy experience working with the issues I am looking for help with?

It's really important to find someone who specializes in the area that you are struggling in.  You want a therapist who has worked with your issues before and knows how to help you.  If your vision becomes challenged as you drive, you head to the eye doctor, right?  Same here.  You want someone who is trained and experienced in your struggle.  

In my private practice, I focus on helping individuals in the areas of anxiety and trauma. I have additional training and tools beyond talk therapy that help my clients experience relief and find hope for living without anxiety or past memories dominating their day. Many of my clients don’t want another therapist who just rehashes their history and pain. Within the first few sessions my hope is that you will experience more lightness in your body and in mind so that the crippling anxiety loosens its grip.  

Question #2: What will a typical therapy session be like?

Knowing what to expect when you sit with your new therapist can help you decide if it's a good fit for you. There are many different ways to help people and it's important to know what you will be doing in the sessions.  You want to know if you will just come in and complain or talk about your feelings or if the therapist has a certain method they use and if so, find out a little what that looks like in the therapy room.  If you want to do more than just talk, ask the therapist what kind of tools they use.  Ask yourself if it feels like a good fit for you.  

As an anxiety and trauma specialist, I use a brain based therapy called Brainspotting because it will help you focus on the part of your brain that carries your anxiety (and all your emotions) as well as your negative experiences.  There's a lot more to therapy than just talking and in Brainspotting sessions, you can talk as much or as little as you want.   We will start by deciding what issue you want to work on that day.  I will ask you what that issue feels like in your body. Using that sensation in your body, we will find a “brainspot”.   During this time where you are looking at the “brainspot” you will notice your thoughts, feelings, body sensations.  It’s a process of noticing what does happen rather than trying to make anything happen.  You can talk as much or as little as you want.  Because you are getting access to the deepest part of your brain, you will process the trauma and relate to it differently. What I love about Brainspotting is that you are in charge.  Your brain knows exactly what you need to find healing and we move at your pace.  We can use Brainspotting in conjunction with other modalities or solely on its own. It's really what feels best for you.

Question #3: How long do I have to be in therapy?

It is difficult for a therapist to estimate exactly how long you will be in therapy because they don't know your story, but the therapist can give you a general estimate based on their experience with other clients.   It's important to know this information so that you can decide if your schedule and your finances will fit.  

In my practice, I ask people to commit to coming to sessions every week for 4-6 months.  This allows me to get to know you and work at a steady and efficient pace to help you reach your goals.   Evidence-based research studies generally show an association between weekly therapy sessions and positive outcomes for clients. This is especially important in the first stage of therapy, when we are  getting started and beginning to get to the core of things.

Question #4: How do you think therapy can help me?

Therapy can help you express your thoughts and emotions and identify patterns and beliefs that may hold you back from living a full life.  Therapy can help you gain coping mechanisms, build resilience and handle stress better.  It can help you feel less anxious and not feel as reactive to things that bother you now.  You will grow personally and understand and know yourself so that you can have a more meaningful and peaceful life.  

I believe that therapy can actually heal your brain.  Wouldn't it be great to have a healthy brain? Because I use a brain based therapy, we are going right to the deepest layer of your brain and your brain knows exactly what it needs to do to heal.  And you feel better and are able to handle your life way better!

Question #5: How do you gauge my progress in therapy?

Gauging progress is important.  You don't want to begin therapy only to find out your therapist has no way of tracking your progress.  

In my practice, I really care that this is a big investment of your time and money.  I will email you some forms with assessments that can be filled out before our first session so that I can know some things about you before we even begin.  That gives me an idea of what your goals and hopes are for therapy.  We check in every quarter to see where you have reached your goals and where you still need to continue working.

Question #6:  What is your therapy fee and do you accept my insurance?

Therapists have differing fees based on many different components…where they are in the country, how much experience and training they have and other things.  It is important to know if they accept your insurance and what their fee is so you know if you can move forward with the therapist at all.  

I am an out of network provider which means that I am not in network with any insurance companies, but I can provide a super bill that you can send to your insurance company for possible reimbursement.  My fee is $225 for a 50 minute session.

According to research, the more connected you feel in your relationship with your therapist, the more likely lasting change will happen. That’s why finding a good fit is so important and why I want to help you find the right therapist in San Jose, CA. If you are still feeling stuck, feel free to contact me here or call me at (408) 535-0163 for a free 15-minute phone consultation. I’d be happy to hear about what is happening and help direct you to the right therapist. If you are looking for help with anxiety and trauma, you can read more about how I can help here.