Meet Lauren Less, LCSW & CADC
Hi, my name’s Lauren Less. I’m an LCSW and CADC, and I’ve been a therapist at Ace Counseling for a little over a year. Now today for Talk It Out Tuesday, I’m going to be discussing how to find a therapist that is a good fit for you personally.
First off, Psychology Today is a great resource. You can search by insurance location and presenting issue, or you can see if a therapist is currently offering telehealth. I highly recommend reading each therapist’s bio to see if they sound like a good fit for you.
My next tip is to schedule a Free Consultation with the Counselor. Many therapists offer a free consult call or video session where you can get a chance to know them a little bit better. Currently, Ace Counseling is offering a 15-minute consult either via video or phone. I highly recommend also making a list of questions beforehand that you feel would be helpful to get answered during the consult.
Recommended Questions To Ask Your Therapist
(1) Do you have experience working with my population or what I am struggling with personally? Personally, I’ve experienced working with a variety of ages and populations. I mainly work with adults and teens, struggling with anxiety, depression, life transitions, such as diagnosis of a chronic illness or food allergies. And I myself have a chronic illness and several food allergies.
(2) How will I know if we are making progress? My answer would be, we will set goals together in your first session, and we will set smaller goals, such as weekly goals to work towards the larger goals. We will also continue to reevaluate those goals during the process to make sure they are still in line with what you want to be working on.
(3) How can I get in touch with you between sessions? I’m available by email or phone, and I will get back to you within 24 hours. If it’s an emergency, you should always call 911.
(4) What is your approach? I tailor my approach to each client individually, but I use a mix of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), strength-based approach, person-centered therapy, and acceptance & commitment therapy (ACT).
(5) What does your availability look like? Personally, I have availability on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
(6) What kind of homework do you give clients? I typically discuss this with each client individually, and I only give homework. If it is something that would be helpful for them rather than an extra stressor. Usually, we set a goal for each week of something to work on, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be a formal worksheet, finding a therapist that is a good fit for you is an important piece of therapy.
Interested In Scheduling?
If you think we could be a good fit, feel free to sign up for a consult on our website and check out the bios of our other therapists as well!
