Questions to Ask When Choosing an Anxiety Therapist | San Francisco Bay Area

So you’ve been searching for an anxiety therapist in San Francisco for a while now and have found a couple of therapists that seem nice enough.  All of them offer a free consultation—which is great—but you have no idea what to ask.  It’s nerve-wracking to finally make the phone call and it can be a hard to get a read on the therapist when you are nervous, let alone remember what questions to ask.  The following is a list of questions to help you find the right therapist for you in San Francisco or wherever you are looking.

Key Questions to Ask if You Are Looking For An Anxiety Therapist in the San Francisco

1)     What is your experience working with people who have symptoms of anxiety and depression that I am currently describing?

This is a great question to ask because it lets you know if the therapist you are talking to is skilled in the area you need help.  A worthwhile therapist will not just list a bunch of specialties, they will be able to provide specific examples of how they treat your symptoms and a course of treatment.  Also, a reputable therapist will also have no problem telling you that they don’t specialize in working with certain conditions and refer you to someone who might be a better fit.  For instance, I have minimal experience working with eating disorders, so I would refer out anyone who came to me requiring help for that. I do, however, have 15 years experience of working with people who have symptoms of anxiety and depression and use dance therapy combined with talk therapy to help clients.

2)    How long have you been in practice and what is your license?

This will give you an idea of what the therapist’s experience is.  Your therapist should definitely be licensed or in the process of getting a license (an intern).  If your therapist is an intern, they may have less experience but will be supervised by a licensed clinician.

3)    What is your experience working with people of my cultural or ethnic background, gender identity, or sexual orientation?

 Not all therapists have experience with every population.  Every person deserves to feel seen and heard in therapy and having a therapist that understands your experience is important.  Make sure to communicate what aspects of your identity are important that your therapist understands and ask questions to see if they are able to help you. If being a Latina is an important part of your identity and you feel a white therapist might not understand or be able to help you due to their ethnicity or lack of experience treating Latinas, this therapist may not be a good fit.  If you feel that a therapist is not a fit due to them not understanding your identity for whatever reason, they should have referrals to therapists that are better for you. An additional resource with more in-depth questions for QTBIPOC clients to ask when looking for affirming mental health providers is available here.

4)    What is your approach to anxiety therapy in San Francisco?

 I can’t tell you how many times prospective clients have told me they don’t want a therapist who just stares at them and parrots back to them what they said or who nods blankly at them. Most therapists these days are not traditional psychoanalysts with a couch for clients to lie on.  However, what the therapist’s approach to therapy is will give you an idea of what therapy sessions with them will be like. To start with, I focus on self-care and learning to take care of oneself as as cornerstone of mental health care.

5)    How much do your anxiety therapy sessions cost?  Are you in-network with my insurance?

 It’s important to know how much therapy costs to be able to accommodate your budget.  To find an anxiety therapist in San Francisco, you may need to pay out-of-pocket or see if you can be reimbursed by your insurance.  Many San Francisco therapists are not in-network with insurance companies because the insurance companies pay therapists so little. You may need to shop around to find a quality therapist you feel comfortable with and that is in your budget. It may be useful to think of therapy as an important investment that in return can improve your quality of life. 

 6)    What availability do you have and when can I start?

 By asking this question you can plan for regularly weekly sessions at a time that works for you. 

I hope this list helps you find the right anxiety therapist in San Francisco. If you are still feeling lost or frustrated with the process, feel free to call me at (415) 212-8780 for a free 15 minute phone consultation or schedule online now. I’d be happy to hear about what is happening and help direct you to the right person. If you are looking for help with anxiety or trauma, you can read more about how I can help here.