Now that you've ended your sessions with your previous therapist, the first thing to do before taking the next steps is give yourself some time to reflect. "I usually suggest people do some reflection after they 'break up' with their therapist and get specific about what they are looking for — male/female, age range, location, training, areas of expertise, etc.," licensed social worker Kelley Kitley explained to Today.
The experience with your previous therapist is a good starting point. What worked in those sessions and what didn't? If you're having a hard time figuring out exactly what you want from a therapist, you can always start off with the things you don't and go from there.
Another thing to take into account is if your chosen therapist can understand your lived experience. They don't necessarily need to be in the same position as you, but they should at least be able to understand the issues that can be affected by your background, ethnicity, and culture, which ultimately affects your experience of the world. For example, the experience a person of color has with racism, tokenism, and microaggressions.
