Picking My Personal Therapist:

A good place to start is to consider your specific needs and priorities. Think about what you hope to get out of your experience? Here are a few questions to ask yourself.

• Does the provider have experience working with issues like mine?

• Is it important that the provider share similar cultural identities to me, such as race, gender, or spirituality

• Can the provider accommodate my mobility needs, such as having an elevator or first-floor access with no-step entry?

• Does the provider speak the language(s) I feel most comfortable speaking when I express my emotions?

• Is the provider available when I am?

You can use our filters to find providers who match your answers to the above questions. Ultimately, the provider who is right for you is someone who feels trustworthy and who is well-equipped to help you meet your goals. Just like with any relationship, some providers are a good fit for some clients, and some aren't.

One way to assess fit is to see how you feel during your first contact with the provider. Many providers require an initial consultation call before you can schedule an appointment with them. This way you can see if they are a good fit before you start working together. It’s a good idea to be prepared with a list of questions you want to ask so that you can make an informed decision.

Many providers check in with their clients to see how therapy is going so that you can adjust accordingly. If they don’t ask, we encourage you to give your provider feedback about what’s working and not working along the way. At any point, if you decide you aren’t getting your needs met, you are welcome to search MiResource for someone else who will be a better fit. In the end, you meeting your goals is what is important. We are here to support you!

Making a great connection with a provider is exciting. We trust their approach, feel safe opening up to them, and make progress toward our goals. Not all providers and clients are a good fit though.

If you are not feeling a connection with your provider and it’s getting in the way of you meeting your goals, here are a few questions to ask yourself:

• Do I feel supported? A good provider will challenge you, yet will do so with compassion and understanding.

• Does my provider listen to me and understand what I say?

• Is my provider reliable?

• Does my provider push their own values on me?

• Am I making progress toward my goals?

• Does my therapist just tell me what to do rather than teaching me the skills to find my own solutions?

• Does my provider have the expertise to treat my issues?

• Is my provider crossing any boundaries that make me feel uncomfortable?

Change doesn’t happen overnight, but you should feel a change after a few months, not years. If your provider is saying it will take a few years, then you should be able to discuss this openly with your provider and come up with a better solution. If not, you should consider seeing a different provider.

When you are ready to search for another provider, we are here for you. Our filters will help you narrow down your search and make a better match.

Sometimes meeting with a provider with certain identities can make us feel more comfortable, such as you might find a female-identified provider easier to talk to because you are used to talking with your mom about your problems. You may also feel more comfortable speaking to someone who shares your religious background because your religious values are very important to you.

Other times, your decision to meet with a particular type of provider may be based on a need to feel safe and comfortable after an experience of gendered trauma, such as wanting to meet with a man provider after being sexually abused by a woman. You may also prefer to meet with a provider who speaks your primary language because it is easier to process emotions without translating them at the same time.

Based on your own identities, you may have encountered discrimination, stereotypying, or identity-related trauma (e.g., racism, transphobia, homophobia). These lived experiences can have serious, negative consequences on your mental health. Meeting with someone who shares your identities may help you feel more secure that you can avoid explaining how you have been impacted.