Clarity Counseling in Fargo knows that choosing a counselor is not easy. All counselors are not create equal, and research shows having a good relationship with your counselor plays the biggest role in the effectiveness of counseling. If you are lucky enough to have friends who have sought out counseling and found a counselor they liked, that would be a great place to start. If you don’t have a counselor you have been referred to (or if that counselor turned out not to be a good match for you), here are some suggestions:
1) Check out their website. Most counselors have a brief description of themselves, their specialties, and background.
2) If their website appeals to you, give them a call and conduct a brief phone interview with the counselor you would like to see. Tell them what your issue is and ask if they have experience with helping others with your issue.
3) If the phone interview goes well, then set up an appointment with them. After the first meeting with the counselor, check in with how you feel. Did you have confidence the counselor could help you? Did you trust them? Did you leave feeling hopeful? Did you like them and feel like they understood you? If the answer to these questions is no, do not be afraid to interview another counselor and another until you find counselor that you feel confident with.
Because Clarity Counseling, counselors in Fargo, believe so much in the therapeutic relationship, both Marty Tallakson and Trish Tallakson offer our first session for free. If you don’t feel safe with one of us, Clarity Counseling will help you find someone who is a good fit for you. Don’t let not knowing where to start keep you from getting help!