Dbt - Questions To Ask Potential Therapist?

[Hashi]

I know there's another thread here about whether Dialectical Behaviour Therapy could be helpful, but I already know that I want DBT so I'm asking about something a bit different.

Where I am and given my situation, options are limited but I've finally found a place where I might be able to see a DBT therapist. It would be individual therapy with a clinical psychologist who does DBT. I still want to make sure that the therapist feels like an OK fit, and there's more than one therapist who I could see.

So I wondered if anyone could help me with what to ask about when I have phone conversations before choosing who to make an initial appointment with? Is there anything that people have liked or disliked in a DBT therapist? Is there any kind of DBT-specific training or experience I should be looking for? (I'm in the UK.)

Any advice or suggestions would be welcome.

Thanks,

Hashi

 

[ronin47]

Looking back on my past experiences with therapists and thinking about what I would ask if I had to do it over, I would ask how does that T interact with someone who is new to the therapy versus someone who is more accustomed to it, if there's any difference at all. I would also inquire about some broad ideas about what the T might talk about with the client in any given session. You could phrase it like "So, with an average client, what are some subjects you might discuss on any given session?" Of course the therapist is not (or at least should not) discuss specifics with you, but they might give examples. Also, this might be a little harder to paraphrase, but you could ask about the T's philosophy when it comes to getting the client to go beyond their comfort zone. And by that I mean getting them to talk about traumatic experiences even though it may be stressful to do so, things like that.

I'll let you know if I think of any more.

 

[Innordinate]

You might want to find out if your t does all the group therapy aspect or if it's shared with other t's.

 

[Hashi]

Thank you, ronin47 and Inordinate. Those are really helpful questions.