Article
How do I choose a counselor, and what should I ask?
Choosing a counselor can feel like guessing, particularly when you are already worn out.
The short answer
Look for a licensed professional whose focus matches your concern, whose logistics work for your life, and with whom you feel reasonably comfortable being honest. Fit matters as much as credentials, and it is fine to ask questions before you commit.
Worth asking up front
- Are you licensed, and what is your license?
- Do you work with concerns like mine regularly?
- How does payment work, and do you take my insurance?
- Are sessions in person, online, or both?
- Can faith be part of the conversation, or left out, depending on what I want?
What good fit feels like
You can say the honest version of things. She listens before she advises. You leave with something clearer, even when the hour was hard.
It is reasonable to give it a few sessions, and also reasonable to look elsewhere if it is not working. A good counselor will not take that personally.
Local and online options
Lori Rasmussen is a Licensed Independent Social Worker in Waterloo, Iowa, working with women and female students in the Cedar Valley and online anywhere in Iowa. You can read about counseling with Lori, or about online counseling across Iowa, before you call.
Common questions
Where is Lori's office?
In Waterloo, Iowa, serving Waterloo, Cedar Falls and the Cedar Valley, with online sessions across Iowa.
What if I have never done this before?
Most first-time clients say the same thing. The first session is a conversation, not a test.
How do I start?
Call or send a message through the contact page, and Lori will reply, typically within one to two business days.
Learn more about counseling for women and female students with Lori, or browse all articles for women and female students.
Written by Lori Rasmussen, LISW, a Licensed Independent Social Worker licensed in the State of Iowa and a Certified Spiritual Director. Lori counsels women and female students in Waterloo, Iowa and online across Iowa. Articles here are meant to help you understand what you may be experiencing; they are not a diagnosis and they do not take the place of care from a professional who knows your story.
Reaching out can be the first step.
You don't need to know exactly what to say, or have anything figured out, before you contact Lori.
Or email rasmussencounselingandsd@gmail.com