Therapy Consultation Call: know what to expect and what questions to ask
Looking for a therapist can feel overwhelming– and having good rapport with your therapist is a crucial component to the outcome of therapy. The therapeutic relationship has proven to be one of the most influential aspects of successful results for clients.
Most therapists offer a complimentary consultation call, typically 15-30 minutes, for the client and therapist to both assess whether they would be a good fit to work together or not.
You can expect the therapist to ask you a series of questions such as:
What’s bringing you to therapy?
What are your therapeutic goals?
Have you ever been in therapy before? What was that like?
What are your symptoms and how are they impacting your day-to-day life?
Along with some additional risk factor screenings such as:
Are you currently or have you ever experienced thoughts of harming yourself or something else?
Have you ever experienced any trauma?
Have you ever been hospitalized for mental health reasons?
Have you ever experienced hallucinations or delusions?
Tell me about your substance use, if any?
The therapist may or may not then take a moment to give a brief description of their approach and the types of clients they work with. After that, clients are typically given the opportunity to ask questions.
Here are some questions to consider asking during your consultation call:
How long have you been practicing as a therapist?
What licenses do you hold / what do you specialize in?
What is your approach and how do you anticipate working with me?
Do you have experience working with concerns like mine?
What is your rate? Do you accept insurance?
Do you offer a sliding scale?
How long are your sessions?
Do you offer in person or virtual sessions? What is your availability?
What does a session with you typically look like?
What made you want to become a therapist?
Asking these questions can help you find a therapist who is aligned with your needs, values, and goals. Just because you have a consultation call doesn’t mean you are locked into therapy with this person. If toward the end of the consultation call you still aren’t sure whether you want to proceed or not, give yourself permission to take some time to think about it and get back to them. The purpose of this call is to help you find the right fit before committing.
How do you know if it’s the right fit?
Listen to your body and trust your gut. You have to feel safe and comfortable with your therapist to get the most out of therapy. You can learn a lot about someone in 15 minutes and noticing if it feels good or not is an important indicator for how you will feel in future sessions. You’re allowed to meet with as many therapists as it takes for you to find the right one.
