Finding the “Right” Therapist

Choosing a therapist can feel a bit like dating—you’re looking for someone you can trust, who “gets you,” and who can genuinely help you move toward the life you want. But how do you know when you’ve found the right fit?

Psychiatrist Pooja Lakshmin, MD, offers a helpful framework. She highlights three big areas to pay attention to—and I’ll break them down here in simple, practical terms.

1. Practical Fit
Do the logistics work for you? This includes location (or virtual sessions), cost, scheduling, and how therapy is structured. If the basics don’t line up, it will be hard to stay consistent—even with the most skilled therapist.

2. Emotional Safety
When you sit with your therapist, do you feel seen, respected, and understood? Therapy isn’t always comfortable—sometimes it’s challenging!—but you should still feel safe enough to be yourself, even when you’re struggling.

3. Aligned Goals
A good therapist helps you clarify what matters to you, then works alongside you to move in that direction. If your therapist’s approach feels out of sync with your needs, it’s okay to ask questions or even try a different fit.

At its heart, therapy is about teamwork. The right therapist won’t “fix” you (because you’re not broken)—but they will walk beside you, guiding you to build skills, uncover strengths, and take steady steps toward the life you truly want.

And here’s the bottom line: if you don’t feel that fit after a few sessions, it’s not a failure. It’s simply information to help you keep searching until you find the therapist who feels right for you.

Here at HealthWise Psychology, we will never pressure you to start or continue services if it’s not the right fit. We pride ourselves on integrity and putting our clients first-no questions asked.

Call us today if you’d like to get a feel for what we do. If we’re not right for any reason, we’ll help you find someone who is. (832) 303-1039.