How do you rate your therapist after you've been to them for several sessions? What if you're not completely satisfied with the therapist? Do you know if it's because you're not comfortable with the process and don't know what to expect or if this is the wrong therapist for you? You could use the following questionnaire to help evaluate.
Rate each statement according to the following scale:
4= This statement is always true;
3= It is true most of the time;
2= It is true some of the time;
1= It is seldom true;
0= It is never true.
1._____ I feel comfortable with the therapist.
2. _____ The therapist seems comfortable with me.
3. _____ The therapist is casual and informal rather than stiff and formal.
4. _____ The therapist does not treat me as if I am sick, defective, and falling apart.
5. _____ The therapist is flexible and open to new ideas rather than pursuing one point of view.
6. _____ The therapist has a good sense of humor and a pleasant disposition.
7. _____ The therapist is very willing to tell me how they feel about me.
8. _____ The therapist admits limitations, not pretending to know things they don't.
9. _____ The therapist is willing to acknowledge being wrong and apologizes for errors or for being inconsiderate, instead of justifying the behavior.
10. ____ The therapist answers direct questions instead of asking me what I think.
11. ____ The therapist reveals things about themself spontaneously or in response to my inquiries, but not by bragging or talking incessantly.
12. ____ The therapist encourages a feeling that I am as good as they are.
13. ____ The therapist acts as my consultant, rather than the manager of my life.
14. ____ The therapist encourages differences of opinion rather than telling me that I am resisting if I disagree with them.
15. ____ The therapist is interested in seeing people who share my life or seems willing to. This includes family, friends, lovers, work associates or other significant people in my life.
16. ____ The things the therapist says make sense to me.
17. ____ In general, my contacts with the therapist lead to my feeling more hopeful and having higher self-esteem.
___________ TOTAL
Interpreting your score: You would probably not feel comfortable working with a therapist who rated below 50 points. Certainly, you shouldn't even consider working with some whose score fell below 40 points. Don't think you have to stay with a particular therapist simply because you have started or have been with the same person for months. It is your time, money and well-being that are at stake. If you try several therapists with different styles and personalities and none seems satisfactory, perhaps it is better to work with the one who has the highest score rather than using an absolute figure.
Even after visiting a specific therapist for several sessions, you can still change therapists if you are not making progress or if the therapist is not going in the direction you desire. Remember, the therapist always works for you! You are the boss and must call the shots.
Posted on Mar 24, 2002, 9:40 PM from IP address 213.243.30.3