How to Find a Kick Ass Counselor

A dear friend of mine recently asked me how one can tell a legit counselor from a quack.
The following blog is how I answered her email which she suggested I post to help others discern the same.
Even if you currently don't have any major "issues", counseling is always a good idea. Here's my spiel on how to find a gem in the sea of psychotherapists.

1) Each counselor may be different with first session cost. If cost is a factor, I would call ahead and ask the counselor directly or ask their administrative assistant if first sessions are reduced because you're "shopping" so to speak. It is a totally legitimate question to ask, so no need to worry about if it's an odd thing to do- it isn't. Some clues as to whether or not it will lean in your favor and be price flexible are if the counselor is in private practice or group practice. They may have lowered their initial session rate. If the counselor is working for a private agency then their cost might be non-negotiable and set by the company and the insurance companies they deal with. Bottom line is- ask. Despite everything, if they want your business independent counselors may budge on this.

2) A good counselor has the following qualities-

a) They make you feel welcome and comfortable- this may be hard to judge in the first session because you may feel slightly nervous yourself. However, you should still feel like there is potential to trust this person.... (like you can say you killed your mom and they barely bat an eye or if you curse or cry in session they are super chill about it) so in other words, you're looking for a non-judgmental/ easy-going attitude.

b) They don't talk a lot and don't interrupt you (except when they notice you are contradicting yourself- they are allowed to call you out) And when they do talk it's rarely about them, (maybe occasionally- but not lengthy) or just when you ask them about them. A GOOD counselor will only talk about themselves when asked or when they have something about themselves that would be beneficial to your treatment.

c) You feel understood. You'll notice a counselor is a really good listener if they make you feel understood and therefore you want to keep talking. Counselors do this by pinpointing how you feel to show they "get it" and they hear the emotions you are struggling with. If you feel understood that's a good sign.

3) Ask about their education- education isn't everything, but good counselors will have credentials of some sort. Where did they go to school? They should definitely have accomplished graduate work! Do they have their LCSW or LPC? (LCSW-licensed social worker- not as concentrated in counseling as LPC-licensed counselor). LCSW's can be good, but those with their LPC have concentrated in counseling where as LCSW's have broader training in hooking people up with mental health resources...LPC guarantees that person has around 3,000 hours of field work completed- look for those! Those that have their PsyD's or doctorates in counseling would be good fits as well. But definitely ask about this and ask what populations they have worked with and for how long. You wouldn't want to be getting counseling sessions from someone that just facilitated drug and alcohol groups their whole career. Ask about specialties/their passions.

Additionally, I found these questions on a website that would also be helpful to ask during your initial meeting...

•What is your academic background and what has your training been to prepare you to practice as a therapist?
•What specialized training and/or experience have you had in working with the issue I am dealing with?
•What professional associations do you belong to?
•What are your fees? How will my insurance claim be handled? (preferably fees and potential insurance coverage should be discussed on the phone prior to making the first appointment)
•What type of therapy do you do? (mostly talking, role-playing, visualizing, artwork, dream therapy, CBT)
•What are your office protocols? (booking appointments, payment for missed appointments, emergencies, etc.)
•I would like a brief explanation as to what I can expect to happen in my sessions.
•How long will each session last?
•How will my confidentiality be assured?


Asking the aforementioned questions can be helpful in finding the counselor that is a good fit for you.
And if all else fails, Dr. Beltzner starts her practice on July 8th.


"Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart ... Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens." -Carl Jung