4 Essential Tips for Finding the Right Therapist or Life Coach

Finding the right therapist or holistic life coach can feel like a really daunting task at first. With thousands of possibilities out there in the Internet ether, you aren’t exactly taught how to find the right person to work with. In short, you need a streamlined and simplified process that can help you feel empowered and clear in your search for a mentor. That is exactly what I hope to offer you in this blog post.

I like to treat the process of finding a therapist or life coach like dating. At first glance, that statement might sound kind of weird or maybe even inappropriate but let me explain: This is a potentially years-long commitment of your time, energy, and financial resources. So, in essence, you’re searching for a committed relationship!

With that in mind, here are four essential tips that you can incorporate into your personal search for a therapist or life coach so that you can find someone that feels like your right fit.

1 — Know Your Core Values

What do you value in a professional relationship? Get clear on that. For example, when I have discovery calls with potential clients, many say something like, “I’m looking for something more than talk therapy.” They are highly ambitious people who are eager to do the inner work, and they want to learn and implement new tools and practices in their daily lives. This is a core value that they may ask me about.

A second example of a core value that a new client recently shared with me was, “Something that is really important to me—a non-negotiable, really— is to feel a deep sense that this therapist or life coach really sees me and understands me.”

Action Step: Reflect on, get clear on, and write down what your core values are in a therapist or life coach.

2 — Know Your GOALS

If you can do a little bit of prep work prior to the call, be as clear as you’re able to be on what you want, and communicate that clearly, you will leave that free call feeling so much clear on whether they are the right fit for you. A skilled therapist or coach will often have a mini intake you can fill out that invites you to do this kind of prep work for yourself (I offer exactly this when you book a call with me).

Action Step: Reflect on, get clear on, and write down what goals you want to accomplish on your therapy or life coaching journey.

3 — CHEMISTRY MATTERS

Working with a therapist or life coach is an intimate journey—and just like in dating, chemistry matters. You might meet someone who is qualified, wise, soulful, kind, and trained in the modalities you’re looking for, but if there’s no spark, it can feel flat or misaligned.

That spark is a felt sense — an intuitive click, a resonance, a sense of feeling excited, inspired, seen, and safe all at once. On your discovery call, pay attention to how your body responds. Your body will always tell you the truth. You deserve to work with someone who ignites a sense of hope, vision, and possibility in you—someone who helps you feel both met and inspired.

Action Step: Pay attention to how you feel during and after the discovery call. Your body and your feelings will give you information about whether that person is aligned for you.

4 — KNOW YOUR BUDGET

The clients I work with are often very much the “whatever it takes” kind of client. When I share with them my pricing, they rarely bat an eye because a.) I am confident in my pricing, b.) They know what they’re looking to spend, and c.) They deeply value internal work and are willing to pay for an excellent service.

That being said, taking some time to think about what financially makes sense for you right now and what you’re willing and able to invest financially can help you feel much more grounded and clear heading into a free call.

Action Step: Before the free consult, get clear on these three questions: What is my monthly budget for this kind of support? Is this investment sustainable for me over time? Do I need to ask about payment plans, sliding scale, or package rates?

I hope this blog post was helpful for you and can help you on your journey of identifying the right therapist or life coach for you to work with. Feel free to comment below or shoot me an email at contact@heatherwaxman.com and let me know what resonated with you.

With care,
Heather

Are you currently seeking holistic therapy, soul-centered life coaching, or spiritual mentorship?

Ready to work with a coach who can help you break free from stuck patterns and reclaim your sense of self-trust and personal power? Read about my private coaching offering and book your discovery call here.