Paul Conti

So let's step back from that for a second.

Now it's a resource that's not in great supply.

And then a person begins to think,

Essentially, I'll take what I can get.

I just got to get somebody and I don't know enough to know anyway, right?

And those are very disempowering thoughts as opposed to saying, look, I'm going to be an empowered consumer and I need to choose someone who gets over just some basic hurdles of what I think are reasonable human interaction, right?

So like, is the person making eye contact?

Do they seem interested, right?

Like these are basic points about any human interaction, including a therapist, right?

Then you can say, okay, is there word of mouth?

Anyone else has something good?

Nothing better than a word of mouth recommendation from someone you trust, right?

Or anybody can have a good website, but you say, let me look at the website.

What is it saying if there is one, right?

Does it resonate with me or not, right?

But after all of that, then you go to see the person with the idea that you're interviewing them,

The idea that, yeah, I hope this person can help me, and if so, great, I'm with the program, but I'm thinking about it.

Do I want this person?

Do I feel heard?

Do I feel cared for?