How to Choose a Counselor or Therapist It's easy to find a counselor but perhaps more difficult to know if you've found one who is right for you. There are a number of questions you can ask that will help you to choose a counselor. This short article outlines 14 of these questions, in no particular order (please note, the words "therapist" and "counselor" are used interchangeably). Thanks to the GoodTherapy.org therapist members who contributed their ideas for this article! If there are other important questions to ask or things you'd like to add to this list, please post a comment below. 1. What does it feel like for you to sit with the therapist? Do you feel safe and comfortable? Is it easy to make small talk? Is the person down to earth and easy to relate to or does he or she feel cold and emotionally removed? Is the counselor "stuck in her head," or overly emotional and empathic? Is the therapist a "know it all" or arrogant? Sure, for many of us, going to a therapist for the first time is a bit anxiety provoking, and it's important to tease out our own "stuff" from the actual counselor. But, if a counselor doesn't feel like a good fit for you, that's okay; there's absolutely no contract or rule requiring you to continue working with any counselor. However, it's important to check to see if there's a part of you avoiding therapy through a dislike or judgment of