What makes a “good fit” with a Chicago therapist? How to tell if therapy—and your therapist—match your needs
Finding a therapist in Chicago can feel overwhelming. A good fit means you feel safe, understood, and able to do meaningful work together. It’s not about liking every moment of therapy; it’s about trusting the process and the person guiding it.
What a good fit feels like
You feel heard without judgment, your therapist is curious and collaborative, and your goals are clear and revisited. The pace feels right, feedback is welcome, and you leave most sessions with something to reflect on or try—not a sense of being lectured. There’s room to talk about culture, race, gender, sexuality, and identity without educating the therapist about your basic experience. When misattunements happen, your therapist names them and repairs.
Questions to ask in a Chicago consult (15–20 mins)
Approach: How do you practice (psychodynamic, relational, CBT, EMDR, etc.) and why that for me?
Experience: What’s your experience with my concerns (e.g., anxiety, trauma, couples, identity, addiction)?
Process: What do the first 3 sessions look like? How do we set goals and measure progress?
Fit & feedback: How do we talk about what’s working/not? What happens if I’m unsure you’re the right fit?
Logistics: Fees, insurance (BCBS PPO, superbills), in-person vs. telehealth, late/cancellation policy, scheduling.
Green flags
Explains their framework in plain language and invites questions.
Collaborative treatment plan and clear boundaries.
Comfort discussing identity, culture, and power; LGBTQIA+ and trans-affirming stance if relevant.
Supervision/consultation and ongoing training (signals humility and quality control).
Encourages you to shop around and will refer if not the best match.
Red flags
Guarantees quick fixes or avoids your questions.
Seems defensive about feedback or pushes a pace that feels unsafe.
Vague policies, unclear fees, or pressure to commit immediately.
Dismisses culture, race, gender, or trauma as “not relevant.”
First 3 sessions (what to expect)
Intake & goals: Story, symptoms, history, identities, what “better” looks like.
Formulation: How your patterns developed; initial plan and frequency.
Feedback loop: Confirm goals, adjust pace, and set first experiments (communication, boundaries, nervous-system supports).
How to decide
After 2–3 sessions, ask: Do I feel safer, clearer, or more curious? Can I imagine bringing hard stuff here? Do I sense steady progress (even if tiny)? If not, it’s okay to switch—the right fit helps therapy work faster and more deeply.
Working with Wicker Park Therapy Group (Chicago)
We offer relational, psychodynamic, and psychoanalytic therapy for adults, couples, and families in Wicker Park, Bucktown, Logan Square, and Ukrainian Village. We welcome conversations about fit, pace, identity, and culture. If we’re not the right match, we’ll help you find one.
Ready to explore fit? Schedule a brief consult with a Chicago therapist at Wicker Park Therapy Group.
