Therapy is expensive, so choose your therapist carefully and get your money’s worth, U of G Prof. Lynda Ashbourne told Global News this week.

A professor in Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, Ashbourne said feeling heard is a mark of a good therapy session. You should have a good grasp of what to expect from a new therapist after a first session, she said in the Global News story.

“You should feel as if… the therapist heard and understood what you’ve talked about, what is important to you, who you are and something of your current situation — either what’s working or what’s troubling,” she said.

Ashbourne offers several other pointers in the story on how to get the best results from your therapist. Her research interests include couple and family therapy and family relationships.