How to Choose the Right Therapist for You
Searching for a therapist can feel overwhelming.
You may be navigating anxiety, trauma, grief, chronic stress, relationship concerns, or another major life transition. And while you’re carrying the burden of these struggles, you’re also navigating the task of comparing therapy approaches, credentials, availability, and logistics.
The good news is: you don’t need to find the perfect therapist. You’re simply looking for the right fit.
In my practice in Scottsdale, many of the people I work with come in asking similar questions:
Does this therapist understand what I’m going through?
Do they work with people experiencing something like this?
Will their approach actually help me make changes?
Can I see myself opening up to them?
Will therapy feel structured, supportive, or both?
Below are a few key things to consider as you begin your search.
Start With the Main Thing You Want Help With
Not all therapists treat the same concerns—and that matters more than most people think.
Some therapists specialize in trauma, others in relationships, others in anxiety or life transitions. Even therapists who work broadly often have deeper expertise in certain areas.
For example, I commonly work with adults experiencing:
Trauma and PTSD
Grief, loss, and complicated grief
Major life transitions
Relational challenges
Feeling stuck or disconnected from themselves
Spiritual exploration and questions of meaning
The emotional aftermath of painful or life-changing experiences
If you’re unsure of exactly how to label what you’re experiencing, that’s okay. Even a general sense like “I feel stuck,” “I’m overwhelmed,” or “I don’t feel like myself anymore” is enough to get started.
Look for a Therapist Who Understands Your Situation
Therapy isn’t just about symptoms; it’s about your life.
Many therapists focus on working with specific populations or experiences, such as:
Adults processing grief after the death of someone important
People trying to heal from trauma or painful past experiences
Individuals experiencing anxiety, chronic stress, or emotional overwhelm
People navigating a major identity or life transition
Neurodivergent adults seeking therapy that respects how they experience the world
People exploring spirituality, meaning, or their relationship with themselves
Individuals who understand their patterns intellectually but still feel emotionally or physically stuck
You don’t need a therapist who has lived your exact experience, but you do want to find someone who is curious, thoughtful, and attuned to it.
Understand the Therapist’s Approach
Different therapists utilize different treatment approaches, which can shape your therapy experience in meaningful ways. Some approaches are more structured, active, and skill-based. Others are less structured and focus more on insight, patterns, the nervous system, or deeper emotional processing.
My own approach is tailored to the individual and may incorporate clinical modalities such as:
EMDR
Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR)
Brainspotting
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)
Clinical hypnotherapy
Somatic and nervous-system-informed approaches
I may help you process difficult memories, understand patterns, work with nervous-system responses, explore grief and loss, or reconnect with parts of yourself that have felt inaccessible.
If you’re looking to try a specific modality, you’ll likely find many options. However, it’s also important to keep an open mind. I’m trained in multiple approaches because I don’t believe that one technique is right for every person or every experience.
Experience Matters, But Fit Matters More
It’s natural to consider a therapist’s experience when making your decision.
And while training and background are important, research consistently shows that the quality of the therapeutic relationship plays an important role in therapeutic effectiveness.
Instead of focusing only on years of experience, consider:
Do they clearly explain how they work?
Do they have experience with your concerns?
Do they seem engaged, thoughtful, and present?
Can you imagine feeling comfortable talking with them?
A therapist who is intentional and reflective may ultimately be a better fit for you than someone you choose based only on a long resume.
Consider Cost and Insurance Early On
Therapy is most effective when it’s consistent. That means practical details, like cost, insurance coverage, scheduling, and location, matter.
As you explore your options, consider:
Whether the therapist accepts insurance
Session fees and any out-of-pocket costs
Availability and scheduling
Frequency of sessions
In-person or virtual options
My practice is private pay and out-of-network, which allows me to provide individualized care without insurance requirements around diagnoses, session limits, or treatment decisions. I also reserve a limited number of sliding-scale appointments to help make therapy more accessible.
I offer in-person therapy in Scottsdale, Arizona, serving clients throughout Scottsdale, Phoenix, and surrounding communities. Telehealth therapy is also available for adults located throughout Arizona and Maine.
Don’t hesitate to ask questions. Understanding the logistics upfront can make it easier to choose therapy that you can realistically continue over time.
Pay Attention to Personality Fit
This may be one of the most important factors in your whole decision.
Research consistently shows that the quality of the therapeutic relationship is closely connected to therapy outcomes. You should feel heard, respected, and comfortable being honest—even when it’s hard—with your therapist.
You should have a general sense of whether the therapist feels approachable and attuned to you after an initial consultation and your first sessions.
In my own work, I don’t believe therapy should feel rigid or formulaic. I want our work to be collaborative, spacious, and responsive to what you actually need. Sometimes that means conversation and insight. Other times, it may mean working more directly with trauma, grief, the subconscious, or the nervous system.
If a therapist isn’t the right fit, that’s not a failure or a sign that therapy won’t help you. It’s part of the process. Consider yourself one step closer to finding the right match for you.
Finding the Right Therapist Is a Process
Choosing a therapist is a meaningful step and an important investment in your well-being. It’s okay if it takes time.
In my practice, I see therapy as a collaborative process. My goal is to help you understand yourself more deeply, process experiences that continue to affect you, and reconnect with a greater sense of safety, self-trust, and meaning.
We may work with grief, trauma, anxiety, chronic stress, relationship patterns, or the emotional impact of a major life change. I draw from several therapeutic approaches because I want the work to fit the person sitting in front of me—not the other way around.
By being intentional in your search and taking into account important factors such as fit, therapeutic approach, experience, and logistics, you’re setting yourself up for a supportive and meaningful therapy experience.
You don’t have to figure everything out on your own. If you’re looking for a therapist in Scottsdale or Phoenix, or seeking online therapy in Arizona or Maine, I invite you to reach out and see whether working together feels like the right fit.
