So you’ve identified a potential therapist with whom you’d like to work, and you’ve booked a consultation. Good job! Things are moving in a positive direction. 

Here is the fifth of 5 questions you can ask a potential therapist to see if that therapist would be a good fit. 

5. "What experience do you have in working with clients who have [specific issue or concern you're dealing with]?"

I am asked this question often in consultations and I regard it as one of the most important questions I am asked. This question is a reminder to ask myself, do I have the skills and experience to treat this particular client’s concerns? 

If I believe that I do possess those qualities, then it’s a nice opportunity for me to share this with you. I could give examples from my practice affirming that my skills are relevant to your concerns. Or I could describe my education and training and how I would customize my methods to meet your unique needs and goals.

A more challenging situation is when my skills and experience are not relevant to a specific issue or concern. 

This is a humbling moment. It can be hard to admit that I am not the right fit for a client (especially when that client comes to me in crisis). I work hard to always remember that I am treating vulnerable individuals who deserve only the most suitable and appropriate treatment by clinicians whose skills are relevant to their needs. Anything less would be unethical. 

I don’t use the word “unethical” lightly. According to the Social Word Code of Ethics (Section 1.04 on Competence): 

(a) Social workers should provide services and represent themselves as competent only within the boundaries of their education, training, license, certification, consultation received, supervised experience, or other relevant professional experience.

By the way, you can always look up the particular code of ethics that determine the practice boundaries of any therapist you are consulting. Here is a link to the Social Work Code of Ethics, in case you are curious: https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English/Social-Workers-Ethical-Responsibilities-to-Clients

When a therapist realizes, during a consultation, that they are not the right fit for a client (and this happens fairly often), it is that therapist's ethical duty to say so (politely) and to refer the client to a more appropriate therapist (if possible).

I would love to hear your feedback on this post as well as the specific concerns you are dealing with. Please share your thoughts with me at jeremyfaintherapy@gmail.com