For therapy to be useful, the client must feel comfortable and confident enough in their therapist to honestly disclose what is truly happening in their life. While it usually takes a number of sessions for the relationship to develop into one of deep understanding and trust, you should know in the first one or two sessions if you think you will be able to build a relationship that feels good to you. Remember that you are purchasing a service and you have the right to interview and shop around for a therapist that feels right to you.
It is important to trust your instincts and feel empowered to ask direct questions about your therapist's philosophy, training, and experience as well as any other questions or concerns you may have about the process including the business arrangement, length and frequency of sessions and professional boundaries. Specific answers to many of these questions may not be as important as the therapist's style in responding. Look for respectful and sincere replies that lack defensiveness. A good therapist is not afraid to say, "I don't know" when asked how long therapy will take or how exactly things might progress.
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