How do you find a great therapist? You may have made the decision to seek counseling, which is a great first step, but are not sure how to find the right person without first trying out multiple providers. We have compiled a list of commonly asked questions, and are sharing the answers from Licensed Professional Counselor Elizabeth Welwood.

Q: Why should I see a therapist?

A: A therapist is providing a nonjudgmental and compassionate environment that is conducive to self-discovery and healing.

Q: What qualities make a therapist great?

A: A therapist who is nonjudgmental and seeks to understand. A therapist who views their clients as inherently good. I believe the therapist’s viewpoint is essential to the environment in the session, and it sets the stage for the quality of the therapeutic relationship.

Q: Why did you choose to become a therapist?

A: As a young adult, I saw a therapist that helped me through a very difficult time in my life, and I realized I wanted to do the same thing for other people.

Q: Why did you choose LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) instead of another speciality?

A: To me, getting an LPC has allowed me to help people with their own self-discovery by means of the therapeutic relationship. I am more interested in learning techniques having to do with perspective-taking and emotional processing, which has been my experience with the LPC coursework and clientele.

Q: What is your purpose in life?

A: My purpose is to help people. I am passionate about counseling others as well as applying the techniques I teach in my own life.

Q: What do you do outside of work to maintain a healthy, well balanced life?

A: I spend quality time with my husband and friends. We love returning to our favorite restaurants in Austin, Texas. I often admire how cute my dog, Lettie, and cat, Cricket, are. Certain television shows (like Gilmore Girls) bring me joy, and reading tends to relax me.

Q: What other trainings have you completed?

A: I have done trainings in mindfulness-based interventions, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, and trauma-informed care.

Q: What type of assessments do you use in therapy sessions?

A: I use the Beck’s Depression Inventory, Burns Anxiety Inventory, and ACE. Over the course of therapy, I am checking in with the clients on how they feel about their progress, and I’m communicating with them about the progress I am seeing.

Q: How do you use the skills you have learned as a therapist in your own life?

A: I practice mindfulness and self-compassion daily. I do this by formally meditating at times, or informally taking a moment to notice my thoughts, feelings, and sensations and offering my experience compassion. I offer myself compassion with a warm embrace, empathy for my experience, or an affirmation.

Q: What advice do you have for someone struggling with anxiety about a problem at work?

A: First, as you open your awareness to your thoughts and feelings, notice your inner critic. It is human to have problems. Accept your feelings as they are and try to understand what the feelings are trying to tell you. Maybe your discomfort is telling you that a value of yours is being neglected. Let’s start with seeking understanding of your internal experience, and then we can problem-solve.

Q: What is your favorite mindfulness exercise?

A: I love body scans. A body scan is where you focus your awareness on the sensations throughout your body without judgment or resistance. Our body tells us a lot about our mental state. When we focus our awareness on the body in this way, it naturally will start to relax, which subsequently has the power to relax the mind.

Q: Do you typically recommend medication? What would you suggest to someone who does not want to take medication?

A: If I notice that a client could benefit from medication, then I will ask the client how they feel about taking medication. If a client is not open to it, then I accept their stance while making them aware that the acceptance and mindfulness techniques I will be teaching them may not decrease the discomfort they feel in their body, but they will learn to relate to their pain in a different way – they shift their mindset to, “this pain is not a threat. It is uncomfortable, but I can tolerate this.”

Q: Lastly, how should a prospective client prepare for their first session?

A: The first session can feel like a whirlwind for many clients. I gather a lot of information about their presenting problem and relevant background information that I think will be important for our work together. I think a client could commit to being as authentic and open as possible in the first session. Something that could help them follow through with this commitment is journaling about what they need to tell the counselor, as well as any possible fears about opening up. If they are not ready to provide details about their presenting problems, they can even talk to the counselor about their fear of vulnerability.

Forward Counseling offers sessions with talented and passionate life coaches, psychiatrists, and counselors like Elizabeth Welwood. To book with Elizabeth or learn more about other amazing providers dedicated to serving the community of brain health, reach out to us.