Cost of services will probably be a primary concern for you. Therapy can be expensive, but most insurance companies will cover a specific portion of the costs. Check with your insurance company to see what services they will cover and what your co-pay will be. If you do not have insurance, check with your local hospital to see what mental health services are available to you at reduced costs or on a sliding fee schedule.

Even with glowing recommendations by satisfied patients or clients and the referral of your primary physician, finding the right therapist for you make take some time and a little leg work. Your first contact will probably be with the receptionist when you call to make an appointment for a consultation. It's been said that secretaries and receptionists reflect the culture of their work environment, and this is a good analysis. Your request should be handled professionally, and you should be treated with respect.

Entering the Inner Sanctum

You've made the appointment for your consultation and you've prepared a list of questions to ask. You're both looking forward to the session and dreading it at the same time. It's that fear of the unknown acting up. But you've persevered, and now you've been shown into the office.

At this first session, you and your counselor will spend some time getting to know each other. You will discuss your personal history, medical history, and any other areas of your life that have relevance. This helps in firming up the diagnosis of a depressive disorder and gives the counselor information as to the best course of treatment for you. You are building trust, essential for a good working relationship.

Conducting Your Own Interview

This is also the time for you to interview the counselor to be sure you are both a good fit. Remember, you are hiring a professional to do some work. Ask what experience your counselor has in addressing your particular issues. Ask what kinds of therapy she offers. Will you opt for individual or group sessions? Ask how long your treatment is likely to last.

Ask what you can expect from treatment. Most therapists are trained in several different approaches. They then combine techniques from these various approaches that fit their own style and personality. There are also various formats in which therapy may be held. These include individual, group, and family psychotherapy.

Ethics and Confidentiality

You may be ill at ease, at first, and find it difficult to talk about your family relationships or your personal history. Whatever you reveal during your counseling session is confidential. Counselors abide by a strict code of ethics, which states in part that “Personal information is communicated to others only with the person's written consent or in those circumstances where there is clear and imminent danger to the client, to others or to society. Disclosure of counseling information is restricted to what is necessary, relevant, and verifiable” (American Mental Health Counselors Association).

If It's Not the Right Fit

Perhaps you decide that this first counselor is not going to do it for you. You just don't see a rapport developing between you. There's no blame involved on either side, and you don't have to apologize. You're dealing with people, and everyone is different. If there's a personality clash, if you aren't comfortable with your first choice of counselor, move on to the next prospective therapist on your list. It's important that you feel comfortable if you're going to make the best use of your time and money.

You're Hired!

You've found the therapist that you're comfortable with. This is the one. Perhaps it was the first one you interviewed, maybe it's the third. Whatever the case, it's settled, and you're ready to begin.

You'll tell your therapist just that: “I think I'll be comfortable working with you. I'd like to get started.” The next thing that will happen, most likely, will be that you and your therapist will agree on a specific date and time for your first official session. You may ask how many sessions you can expect to have, and your therapist will discuss this with you.

You may be given some homework right at the start. For example, you've told your prospective therapist that you're struggling with specific symptoms. Your therapist may ask you to start keeping a log in which you'll write down when you experience one of these symptoms, and perhaps what you're doing when it happens. You'll get some instructions, regardless, so that when you arrive for your first session, you'll be ready with some specific information.