Counseling or psychotherapy for anxiety, depression, substance abuse, or relationships can be a very life changing, if not life saving, process. It is so important to find the best match for your needs. For many, this is a new experience or at least new in this current situation or location.
Making an inquiry for services and reaching out for help requires enormous trust. It involves uncertainty. Although finding a great match for your needs can be overwhelming, you can minimize the uncertainty. It is important to ask questions and express your hopes and expectations beginning with the first contact and throughout the process. Your questions may include queries about the counselor’s experience, specialties, flexibility, and availability of appointment times. We encourage you to ask how privacy and confidentiality are protected.
The following is a checklist of considerations that could help you determine whether a clinic and therapist/counselor is a right fit for you. An excellent clinic such as Pinnacle Counseling is able to have high ratings in most, if not all, categories.
Using the Scale 1-5 (with 1-Poor, 3-Average and 5-Excellent) rate the clinics and counselor/therapist you visit:
1. The convenience of the location of the office.
2. The availability of appointment times.
3. The comfort/atmosphere of the office or facility.
4. The competence and knowledge of the therapist.
5. The quality of care and services.
6. The thoroughness of the initial evaluation and treatment.
7. The amount of help you received.
8. Your degree of improvement from the time of the initial visit.
9. The degree to which you were helped to deal more effectively with you problems.
10. The improvement in how you feel compared to the initial visit.
11. Your overall satisfaction with the treatment.
12. The value of the treatment, considering the cost.
13 The response time from your first contact to the initial appointment.
14. The adequacy of explanation of procedures, fees, treatment, etc.
15. The friendliness/courtesy of your therapist.
16. The attention and respect to privacy you received.
17. The personal interest in you and your problems.
18. The attention given to what you had to say.
19. Your comfort in referring a friend or relative.
20. Your comfort in returning if you needed help again.
Sharon Nelson, LCSW
Mental Health and Relationship Counselor- Feel Better, Live Better
