How to choose a therapist? Know one in the Loop, Chicago?

January 23, 2012 8:20 AM

Can you recommend a great cognitive behavior therapist in the Loop, Chicago? Extra brownie points for one in North Loop. PS. On second thought, any tips on how to choose a therapist in the first place? What should I be looking for in a therapist? I want to minimize therapist hopping.
posted by gardenbex to Health & Fitness (3 answers total)

(Mefi mail me for the best therapist I've ever had, who happens to work on Michigan Ave near the bean/cloud gate thing. He doesn't do CBT, but his approach is principled and research-based.)

In terms of general advice, I would come up with a couple general questions about thing that are important to you (e.g. a couple values, or the general issue or life situation you want to come in for). Ask them over the phone, and if they seem defensive, dull, or tongue-tied, I would count that against them. But if they seem more or less en pointe and they give a satisfactory answer, and especially if it seems like they really listened and precisely addressed your question or asked a clarifying question first, then they might be worth a shot. (Satisfactory doesn't necessarily mean they agree with you or that they take a firm position on something.) It's very bad if they rush to start talking and make assumptions and don't really answer your question. I think it's a fair thing to do and that it yields real data on them.
posted by zeek321 at 8:31 AM on January 23, 2012 [1 favorite]

You may want to check out the therapists at Urban Balance.
posted by stormpooper at 10:03 AM on January 23, 2012

I don't know anything about Chicago therapists, but here is a comment I wrote about how to get the most out of therapy, which has some applicability to choosing a good therapist for you.

http://ask.metafilter.com/41831/Nuts-and-bolts-of-effective-psychological-therapy-from-a-patients-point-of-view#643460
posted by OmieWise at 11:44 AM on January 23, 2012