I have no budget for a therapist. What should I look for to ensure a good fit? originally appeared on Quora, the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world.

Choosing to seek out therapy is daunting and requires research, trial and error, and patience. You may feel frustrated, disappointed, and confused throughout the process, but finding a therapist that fits your specific needs is an extremely rewarding experience.

Looking for your ideal therapist is almost harder than finding your ideal life partner; the most important factor (for both) is fit. The idea of being a good fit requires many different qualifications. These include having compatible personalities, specializing in your issues/needs at hand, and their style of therapy.

A good therapist has a personality and energy that meets and balances out your individual needs. Is your therapist calm, energetic, eager, more laidback, or serious? These are all questions that you may ask yourself when assessing whether the temperament of your therapist matches your needs. Additionally, your therapist may not have the same background as you do in terms of life experiences. However, this does not necessarily mean that they will not be a good therapist for you. Check to see if your potential therapist specializes in your area of needs whether that be post-traumatic stress disorder, loss of a loved one, etc. This is important as you can ensure that your therapist has experience working with many different individuals struggling with the same problems. I always suggest finding a therapist that specializes in a specific area rather than acts as a “generalist,” because no one can focus on everything.

To tie together the last two points about personality and experience, the style in which your therapist approaches sessions is important, and it should match the style you’re looking for. Is your therapist more direct or more passive? Does the former or the latter make you feel more comfortable or productive in your individual journey? Addressing the dynamic between you and your therapist when working towards solutions is crucial in your progress.

In the end, it may take a couple attempts to find a therapist that you click with. Sometimes, you have to be open to trying a few different therapists before you feel confident that you have the most ideal one for your needs and your situation. The more types of therapists you expose yourself to, the more confident you will be in what kind of therapist you are looking for. Don’t give up after one or two therapists. Sometimes it takes a while, but when you finally find your ideal therapist, it will be incredibly rewarding.

I am a national psychologist and licensed (or license-pending) Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) in over 10 states. I have over 10 years of experience practicing depth psychology (the modality that believes there is a root cause to your struggles). I specialize in working with executives and high net-worth individuals, utilizing my previous experience in business and marketing to assist professionals with Therapeutic Business Consulting.

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