How to Find the Right Therapist
Starting therapy can feel daunting - especially if you've never done it before or have had an experience that left you feeling misunderstood or unseen. Maybe you're exploring therapy because you're struggling in a relationship, trying to manage stress or anxiety, or noticing old wounds showing up in new ways. Whatever the reason, one of the most important steps is finding the right therapist for you.
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to therapy - and that’s a good thing. But it also means the search can feel overwhelming. This guide is here to help you slow things down and figure out what you actually need from therapy and from a therapist, particularly if you're someone navigating cultural identity, intergenerational trauma, or the pressure of high expectations.
1. Know Why You're Looking for Therapy
Before diving into therapist directories or websites, take a moment to reflect. Ask yourself:
Why now?
What do I want to work on or better understand?
What kind of change or support am I hoping for?
Have I been to therapy before? What helped? What didn’t?
You don’t need to have perfectly clear answers - therapy is where a lot of this gets unpacked. But even a rough sketch of your needs can help you find someone whose approach matches where you’re at.
2. Find a Therapist Who Gets It
If you're someone who’s ever felt “in between” - cultures, languages, expectations - you might want a therapist who understands that landscape without needing you to explain it from scratch.
Whether you're second-gen, a migrant, from a mixed or interfaith background, or someone who’s always felt like you don’t quite fit - that matters in therapy. Culturally responsive therapy can help you make sense of those layers in a way that feels safe and respectful, not pathologising.
Some terms people often search for when looking for this kind of support:
Asian therapist Australia
Culturally sensitive therapist
Therapy for people of colour
Counselling for intergenerational trauma
Therapist who understands cultural expectations or shame
If any of those resonate with you, you’re not alone - and yes, there are therapists who specialise in this.
3. What to Look for in a Therapist
Here are a few things that matter more than just qualifications or titles (though those are important too):
Warmth and attunement: Do you feel seen, heard, and not judged?
Cultural understanding: Do they “get” the nuances of your family dynamics or identity struggles?
Experience with your concerns: Whether it’s anxiety, trauma, relationships or shame, does this therapist work with that?
Collaborative style: Do they invite questions? Are they open about how they work?
You don’t need to figure this all out in the first session. But trust your gut — therapy should feel like a space where you can take your time and be yourself.
4. It's Okay to Try More Than One Therapist
You’re allowed to “shop around.” Book an initial consult or first session with one or two different therapists if that feels doable. Notice how each therapist makes you feel, how they respond to what you share, and whether it feels like the kind of space you could grow in.
Some questions to ask:
Have you worked with clients from [insert cultural background] or similar family dynamics?
How do you usually support clients working through relationship struggles or trauma?
What’s your approach - is it structured, exploratory, somatic, narrative?
Do you offer sessions in-person or online?
5. Consider Practical Fit, Too
Some other things to think about:
Do you want to meet in-person (e.g. in Camberwell or Essendon), or would online therapy work better for your schedule or comfort?
Can the therapist offer sliding scale fees or flexible scheduling?
If you’re not eligible for Medicare rebates, are you okay with paying privately?
Remember, the goal isn’t to find a “perfect” therapist - it’s to find a good enough one who can walk alongside you as you explore your stuff.
Trust Your Instincts in Therapy
If something feels off during your initial therapy sessions, trust that feeling. Therapy should be a space where you feel safe and supported enough to open up and explore your thoughts and feelings. If you don’t feel that connection right away, that’s completely normal. It can sometimes take a few sessions to get comfortable, and it’s okay to give it some time.
But if, after a few sessions, you still feel that it’s not the right fit, it’s important to honour that. Therapy is a personal journey, and finding the right therapist is an essential part of that.
At the same time, be mindful of why you’re feeling disconnected. Sometimes, it’s not the therapist - it might be your own trust or vulnerability that's being tested. Therapy can push you in ways that feel uncomfortable, and that’s often where the real growth happens. Before making a decision to move on, ask yourself:
Is this discomfort about the therapist, or is it an opportunity for me to work through something that’s been holding me back?
Final Thoughts
Finding a therapist is a vulnerable process, and it’s okay to take your time. It might feel unfamiliar or even awkward at first - that’s normal. But the right fit can make a world of difference, especially if you’ve gone through life feeling like you’ve had to shrink parts of yourself to be accepted or understood.
You deserve a space where you can bring your full self. The messiness, the contradictions, the grief, the humour - all of it.
Ready to Begin?
We offer culturally responsive counselling in Essendon, Camberwell, and online across Australia. Whether you’re new to therapy or giving it another go, we can help you find the right therapist for you.