Questions to Ask Your Therapist: Ensuring the Right Fit for Trauma Healing

Finding the right therapist is one of the most important steps in your healing journey. For individuals who have experienced trauma or live with dissociation, the therapeutic relationship isn’t just about feeling comfortable—it’s about ensuring your therapist has the knowledge, tools, and approach to help you heal safely and effectively.

At Logos Healing Institute, we encourage clients to ask intentional questions when beginning therapy. The following questions are not only fair—they are essential. They reveal whether a therapist has the training and perspective to walk with you through trauma recovery, and they reflect our own in-house approach to treating trauma and dissociation.

Don’t waste money or time with the wrong therapist! Here is a list of questions that we believe can help you find the right therapist to guide you on the vital journey of healing.

Why Finding the “Right” Therapist Matters

Trauma and dissociation require specialized care. Traditional talk therapy alone is often not enough. Healing involves addressing the brain and nervous system, attachment patterns, and the fragmented ways trauma can impact a person’s sense of self.

By asking these questions, you learn how a therapist understands trauma, whether they have training in trauma-specific interventions, and if their philosophy aligns with your needs. A good therapist will welcome these conversations and see them as part of building trust and collaboration.

Questions to Ask Your Therapist

1. How do you understand dissociation?
   Dissociation is often misunderstood or overlooked. Your therapist should be able to explain it clearly and compassionately, recognizing it as a survival strategy rather than pathology. They should also not be afraid of dissociation. It is a natural experience for every person and the ways it can intensify after an overwhelming experience, is also very natural and expected.

2. What trauma-specific interventions do you use?
   Look for approaches such as EMDR, somatic therapies, parts-work, or trauma-informed CBT. Trauma requires more than general therapy—it requires targeted tools. These tools also should not be used for everyone, so it is also important to ask why and when a therapist would not use something like EMDR for example.

3. What’s your knowledge of the brain and the impact of trauma?
   Trauma changes the brain and nervous system. A trauma-trained therapist should understand how this shows up in memory, regulation, and behavior.

4. How do you specifically approach attachment wounds and relational trauma?
   Since many wounds are relational, healing often must happen in the context of safe, attuned relationship. Attachment is the foundation of how every person interacts and interprets the world around them. Is the world generally safe or unsafe? are people generally safe or unsafe? A therapist needs to have a deep grasp of attachment theory, and how attachment wounds heal in order to help guide clients to deep and lasting healing.

5. When would you refer out a client?
   A healthy therapist knows their limits and collaborates with other professionals when necessary. An effective therapist also has healthy boundaries and knowing that your therapist can and will say no is important in building a trusting relationship.

6. When did you last do continued education, and how has that supported your practice?
   Ongoing training is essential. Trauma research and best practices are always evolving. You wouldn’t want to see a cancer doctor who doesn’t know the most up to date treatments. When it comes to your mental health and well-being, you deserve to see a professional who is trained and continues to seek training to provide you with the best possible support.

7. What are your expectations of clients?
   This helps clarify the roles of both therapist and client, creating shared understanding and accountability.

8. How do you facilitate collaboration between you and your clients?
   Healing is not something done to you, but with you. A therapist should emphasize partnership. The ability of your therapist to bring up hard conversations, talk about what isn’t working, and acknowledge when they missed you is essential. AND a great therapist will continually encourage and support you in doing the same, even when its scary and you aren’t sure you have the skills yet for it.

9. How do you utilize parts-work?
   Many trauma survivors experience different “parts” of themselves. Effective trauma therapy acknowledges and integrates these parts with compassion. There are many “therapies” that utilize parts-work. The important thing is not if its IFS or Ego State or another approach, the important thing is that your therapist regularly utilizes parts-work in their treatment approach.

Written by:

Jessica Roberts & Catie Cizek

Both are licensed therapists at Logos Healing Institute and specialize in working with individuals with complex trauma and dissociation.