Choosing a therapist feels like a puzzle when you have never been in therapy before. How do you know who is right for you? What actually matters? Research is fairly consistent on one point, and it is worth holding onto: the strongest predictor of how therapy goes is not so much the particular approach as the relationship between the two people in the room. That makes the choice matter, and it means you have every right to make it carefully.
What to ask before you start
Before booking a first session, you have every right to ask about the setting. A professional who respects their work will not be bothered. On the contrary, their ease in answering already gives you valuable information.
- What they studied and which therapeutic approach they were trained in.
- Whether they are in supervision, which shows their work is reviewed and keeps developing.
- What a session costs and how often they suggest meeting.
- What the policy is for cancellations and rescheduling.
- Whether they have experience with the issue that brings you, without expecting them to be an expert in everything.
What to notice in the first meetings
In the first two or three meetings, pay less attention to whether they understood you immediately and more to whether you feel safe saying something unpleasant, something you are ashamed of, something you have not told anywhere else. Therapy is not always comfortable. There will be moments when you touch difficult things, and that is part of the work. But it must be safe. Notice whether you feel truly heard, whether they resist rushing to categorise you, whether you leave with the sense that there is room for you in that space.
Therapy is not always comfortable, but it must be safe.
Approach, training and the fit
You will hear many names of approaches, and it is easy to get confused. No serious approach is simply better than the others at everything. What matters is solid training, ongoing supervision, and whether the way of working fits you and your issue. Some people want more structure, others want more room to explore. There is no right answer for everyone, there is a right answer for you.
When it is fine to change
And if it turns out not to be a fit? That is entirely legitimate, and more common than you think. It does not mean you failed, nor necessarily that the therapist is bad. It means this particular relationship did not work. Say so openly. A good therapist will discuss it with you honestly and, if needed, refer you elsewhere without taking offence. Leaving with respect is not abandonment, it is care for yourself.
How we work
At thestherapy we are a team of psychologists in Thessaloniki, offering sessions in Greek and in English, in person and online. We offer a first, short introductory meeting so you can see how we work and feel whether there is a fit, before committing to anything. Because the most important question is not who is the best therapist, but who is the right therapist for you, right now.