Good Questions to Ask a Counselor to Find the Right One

by @purifyinggrace on August 12, 2009

In the book Shattered Vows by Debra Laaser, husband to Mark Laaser, both who help run Faithful and True Ministries, Debra Laaser talks about finding the right support. In this section, she gives a list of some great questions to ask. They are:

  1. Have you worked with other couples dealing with sexual purity issues? Sexual addiction? If so, how many? Do you typically advise them to stay together? (added via email: How do you work with couples?)
  2. Do you recommend individual counseling as well as couples counseling?
  3. Are you familiar with any of these authors who write about sexual purity: Dr. Patrick Carnes, Dr. Mark Laaser, Dr. Dave Carder, Dr. Harry Schaumburg?
  4. Do you address family-of-origin issues?
  5. Do you endorse 12-step programs or support groups of any kind?

One other from Faithful and True added via email is: Are you trained in treating addictions?
Bethsada Workshops suggests these questions:

  1. Are you trained in treating addictions?
  2. Are you specifically familiar with sexual addiction?
  3. Have you heard of Dr. Patrick Carnes?
  4. Do you recommend the 12 Step program of recovery?
  5. Do you work from a trauma-based model in treating addictions?
  6. What’s your approach in helping co-sex addicts?
  7. How many sexually addicted clients have you treated?
  8. What’s your definition of sexual sobriety?
  9. What about couples? How do you work with them?

My questions would also include:

  1. Do you offer a group therapy session on top of your individual counseling sessions?
  2. What certifications do they hold? Are you CSAT (Certified Sex Addiction Therapist) certified? Are you a member of The Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health (SASH)? SASH is an organization dedicated to the promotion of understanding and research around sex addiction and sexual anorexia. Or are they board certified Christian Sexual Therapy from the National Christian Counselors Association?
  3. Typically under what conditions would you encourage separation or even divorce?

Are there any other questions that you would add?

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Related posts:

  1. Journal Questions
  2. Why Your Marriage May Never Find Deep Healing from Sexual Addiction
  3. My Recent Visits to a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist, Pt 2

Tagged as: Christian Counselor, Counselors, Questions, Right Counselor

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