What to look for in a
therapist
Find the right fit for you
When you’re looking for a therapist in Denver, it’s incredibly important to your success to find someone who is the right fit for you. You’ll likely be sharing some very personal issues or life events with them (maybe even some things you’ve never shared with anyone!), and your relationship with the therapist you choose could last months, possibly even years.
How you feel about your therapist and the relationship you share with them can be the most important factor in how successful therapy is for you. Even if a therapist was a good fit for a friend or family member, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they’ll be the right fit for you.
Here are a few qualities to look for when you’re choosing a therapist:
QUALIFICATIONS
Before you put your trust in a therapist, you want to make sure they're qualified and trained in therapy. To become a licensed therapist, people generally have a Master's level degree and have experience seeing clients for 2 or more years with extensive supervision.
There are other mental health providers, like life coaches or unlicensed psychotherapists, that can become "certified" in just months after paying a fee (or even less). It's completely fair to ask a therapist about their education, training, and experience before deciding if they're the right fit for you.
COMFORT LEVEL
Not only do you want to feel comfortable with your therapist, you want to feel like they have your best interests at heart. Your therapist is someone that you should feel comfortable being completely honest with.
Without that, you're missing one of the most important parts of therapy and ways that you can truly share what's bringing you to therapy. Ask yourself if you'd feel comfortable sharing anything with your therapist, even as your feelings evolve and change during your sessions.
PERSONALITY
This is something that you'll need to explore for yourself. People look for different things in therapists, and you might find that the most expensive therapist with the longest waiting list in your city isn't meshing with you. And that's ok! What works for most other people might not be for you.
Ask yourself what you're looking for in a therapist. Do you want someone who feels like they're a caring friend? Do you want someone who might have a more direct personality? If you feel comfortable in your first conversation with a therapist and feel connected when they're answering your questions, that's a critical factor in your search for a therapist.
SOMEONE WHO IS HUMBLE
While many therapists have years and even decades of experience, they very likely don't know everything. You are uniquely you, and you should be treated that way.
Therapists who think that they're always right or that they're never wrong might not be seeing the full picture of what you're sharing or treating you like the individual that you are.
GENUINE CURIOSITY
During your sessions, you are the focus. Your therapist should be genuinely curious about who you are and what's bringing you to therapy.
They should show empathy towards you, your situation, and keep your time focused on you and what you want to share.
Motivation
This one works both ways. When you're thinking about starting therapy, depending on what you're coming to sessions for, know that it might not be a "quick fix." Growth and change usually aren't overnight processes, and sticking with therapy can require commitment on your side.
People who come to a couple therapy sessions and stop usually don't get much out of them—lasting change can take time, and the right therapist for you can help you get there.
PRICE AND LOCATION
While these two things aren't everything, you want to make sure that you can afford your therapy sessions and that the office is located in an area that you can reasonably get to. These can be two stressors that you can try to avoid right away by understanding how much you're willing to pay and what areas would be reasonable for you to travel to for sessions.
Also, some therapists offer teletherapy, and you can ask yourself if you'd prefer talking to someone from the comfort of your own phone. We have two convenient Denver area offices, and most of our therapists charge below the national average for therapy. For your convenience, all of our therapists offer teletherapy as an option.
SOMEONE WHO LISTENS
Your therapy sessions are about you. You're paying for them. You're the one looking to change your situation or life. Somehow, there are therapists out there that spend more time talking about themselves than they do listening to you and what you want to share.
Naturally, therapists ask questions and want to learn about you, but you want someone who is truly interested in you, what you're sharing, and how they can help you get to where you want to be. You want someone who can help you identify patterns and behaviors that can help you change for the better.
THERAPY METHODS
If you've been to therapy before, you might already know what type of therapy you're looking for. You might know that EMDR, CBT, or IFS are the right fit for you. Or, you might've heard of something less traditional, like Splanka or Sand Play therapy, but you've heard good things about it.
If you know what a therapist has used with you in the past and you've had success with it, you can absolutely screen therapists by the type of therapy they offer. Our therapists use most of the most used therapy methods, and we match you with a therapist that specializes in what you're looking for.
MEASURES OF SUCCESS
When you're investing in your mental health, it's important to know how and when you're making progress. Especially when you have goals in mind, you might want to ask a therapist how you'll both be able to measure the progress you're making.
While every therapy journey is unique, this can help you know that you're heading in the right direction, even if they're incremental steps, and that your therapist is invested in your success as much as you're investing in yourself.
WHAT YOU HAVE IN COMMON
What you have in common: Many people want to see a therapist who understands their situation, culture, or beliefs.
While you might find the right fit with someone who is completely different than you are, having some shared understanding of how you see the world can help sessions feel more comfortable and authentic right from the start.
You might want to see an Asian-American therapist, a Christian therapist, or just someone who has seen clients like you before.
Types of therapy we offer
When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.
Victor Frankl
Meet our therapists
My Denver Therapy is one of the largest woman-owned therapy private practices in Colorado with many of the best, most requested mental health therapists in the Denver Metro area.
As a therapist-owned practice with decades of combined experience, we care about seeing our clients heal, grow, and thrive. We’re one of the only therapy practices in Colorado with licensed professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, addiction counselors, social workers, and psychiatric nurse practitioners who actively see new clients. Whether you’re an adult, teen, young adult, couple, or family, our inclusive therapist team is built to specialize in you.
Our practice started with one therapist in a shared office suite, but we’ve grown to help thousands of people in Colorado by providing in-person therapy at our conveniently located Denver Metro area counseling offices in Denver, Greenwood Village, and Lone Tree, plus online therapy for clients throughout Colorado. Because of the way our team works, our therapists also provide consultation for other therapists and private practices in the Denver Metro area.
Our inclusive therapists provide some of the most innovative, effective, and in-demand forms of therapy available today, including EMDR, Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, CBT, and IFS. We also have more therapists trained in Ketamine-assisted therapy, EMDR, and more teen therapists and young adult counselors than nearly every other private practice in Denver.
We know that clients want to find the best therapists in Denver, so our team includes therapists with different backgrounds, specialities, and experiences to help you find the right fit. We’ll match you with one of our therapists who is the best for your goals, location, budget, and schedule to help you get started quickly.
We’re out of network for insurance, Tricare, and are unable to take Medicaid, but most of our therapists’ rates are lower than the local and national averages for therapy.
All of our therapists take a client-focused approach to counseling and approach each session with a commitment to your progress and growth.
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- With therapists and counselors in Denver, Greenwood Village, and Lone Tree, My Denver Therapy provides in-person mental health counseling for adults, teens, couples, and families in Colorado.
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