How To Make The Most Out of Your Free Initial Consultation

In your search for a new therapist, you’ve probably noticed that many therapists offer a ‘free initial consultation’. This consultation is usually about a 20 minute phone call, where you get to know a little bit about your potential new therapist and see if you two will be a good match. You’ll have the chance to ask lots of questions and also get the opportunity to work out logistics about the future therapy sessions!

Have you ever wondered what questions you should ask in the consultation? It can sometimes feel a bit awkward to ‘interview’ your therapist, but it’s worthwhile so you can make sure you’ll find someone to meet your needs that you’ll be able to connect with!

Here are some questions to consider asking during your free initial consultation with a therapist!

1.     “What are your specialties or areas of expertise?” Most clinicians are trained to treat a variety of diagnoses, symptoms or presenting problems. But, many clinicians choose to specialize in something they’re passionate about or really good at working with! You see on their profile that they specialize in working with trauma survivors, but maybe you’re particularly interested in working through racial trauma. Asking them if they specialize in this or have experience in the specific thing you may be trying to work through will help you to know if this person will be a good fit for you. Generally, someone who specializes in a particular area will have some advanced training, certifications or experience on the topic!

2.     “What’s your approach?” A therapists’ approach may be different from their theoretical orientation! While it may be helpful to know what theory they operate off of (think, cognitive behavioral therapy or psychoanalytic, for example), it may be helpful to understand what their process looks like, too! Will their be a three session intake or will you dive right in to sharing your traumatic experience? Will the emphasis be on learning coping skills and reframing your thought process or will the sessions be more of you talking through the things that come up for you and processing your feelings? It’s helpful to understand what direction a therapist tends to go in with a new client, so you can mentally prepare for what that might look like or decide if that’s what you’re looking for.

3.     “How often are your appointments?” Therapy is a commitment! Some people prefer to meet every other week, while some prefer to meet more often like weekly or twice a week! Often, this decision will be made between both you and your therapist, and some presenting problems may warrant more frequent sessions. But, if you know you may have scheduling constraints and are limited to weekends or every other week, make sure your  future therapist has that type of availability!

4.     “What are your payment options?” This question can be asked in many ways! If you plan to use insurance, make sure that your future therapist is an ‘in-network provider’, meaning they accept your insurance. If you aren’t using insurance, ask what their session rates are and if the intake session (the first session) is a different price. Also ask what methods of payment they accept – cash, cashiers check, money order, credit card or debit card? Many people don’t realize that therapy is a ‘qualifiable expense’ for Health Savings Accounts (HSA) or Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA). If you have either of those, ask if the therapist accepts this form of payment too! Check out more about paying for therapy by clicking here.

5.     “What is your cancellation policy?” While this may not seem as important, it’s helpful to know how your future therapist handles late cancellations or you showing up late (or not showing up at all) for a scheduled appointment. Many therapists charge fees averaging from $25 to the full price of the session. It’s helpful to know this in the beginning, versus being surprised later!

By asking these questions, you can make a more informed decision about who to chose as your next therapist! Remember, if you feel like a therapist you have a consultation with may not be a good fit for you, for one reason or another, remember that you don’t have to work with them! Sometimes, finding the right therapist means ‘shopping around a bit’ to find someone who meets your needs best!

Remember, your future therapist will probably ask you questions too during this consultation! Don’t worry, this serves the same purpose – the therapist wants to ensure that they will be able to meet the expectations you have for a therapist!