Making the Most of Your Consultation Call

Anyone else ever struggle to communicate over the phone? No indication of who is talking first, or next. No eye contact, or nonverbal indications, or body language to tap into. No idea if the person on the other end of the line is watching soccer while you pour your heart out… For every proposition that starts with “just one simple phone call”, I usually land in the “count me out” camp. Phone communication and simplicity aren’t related categories in my mind.

So, why do I want you to get on the phone with your potential therapist before the first appointment?

Therapy is an investment. You are committing to allowing someone into your inner circle AND you are paying your hard earned cash to do so. The same way we might sort through reviews before purchasing an expensive new item, or invite a friend out for coffee before choosing to vacation together, it’s important to lay the groundwork for your therapeutic relationship by finding a therapist you believe you could have a positive relationship with. If you have already spoken on the phone with your future counselor, and felt a sense of reassurance and hopefulness, your first session will be that much more valuable. It’s comforting to be able to wade through that initial level of uncertainty for free in a fifteen minute phone call rather than entering the first hour long session that you are paying for full of skepticism.

Tip number one:

Your therapist should lead the way. They should introduce themselves and lay out the framework for the conversation so that you know what to expect and where to start. You should NOT feel like you are left hanging, or experience that all too familiar “so do you talk now, or is it my turn…” feeling,

Tip number two:

If your potential therapist asks, “So what prompted you to seek counseling now?” Do not sugar coat things. While you will only have a few minutes to share why you are looking for a counselor, it’s best to give the most honest nut shell of a summary you can muster. This will give your therapist a clear look into your presenting problem and allow them to assess whether or not they are qualified to work with you.

Tip number three:

When your therapist asks, do you have any questions for me? Go wild. Ask all the questions that feel important to you. If you aren’t clearly receiving the information you need from their answers, that’s worth noting in the con side of your “New Counselor Pro/Con List”. Your counselor should provide clear answers to your questions or be willing to admit "I don’t have an answer for that right now, but I can email you this afternoon with a follow up.” Here are some potential questions you might want to bring up during a consultation call.

• What is your scheduling availability like?

• Are you able to accommodate (insert your preferred session time here: evening, weekend, morning, etc…) sessions?

• How often will we meet?

• How long should I expect to be in counseling? Weeks? Months? Years?

• Where is your office located?

• Are there pictures of your office online that I can see?

• How will we communicate about appointments and billing?

• Where did you go to school?

• What counseling theory do you most closely align with?

• Why did you choose to become a counselor?

• What does a typical session look like with you?

• Do you assign homework in between sessions?

• How would you describe your therapeutic approach?

• Are you specialized or certified in any specific areas?

• Have you worked with anyone who is experiencing (insert your specific scenario or symptoms here)?

• Have you worked with anyone from my age group/culture/race/background before?

• Have you received training in multicultural counseling?

• How much does a counseling session with you cost?

• When is payment for each counseling session due?

• Do you take insurance?

• What is your cancellation policy if I’m unable to make an appointment?

• Will you incorporate faith based principles into counseling?

• Do you offer Telehealth video sessions?

• Will I need to fill out paperwork prior to my first appointment?

• What should I expect in our first session?

Some of these questions might stand out as incredibly urgent, things you would absolutely want to to know before stepping foot into the counseling office. Other questions you might have skipped right past because they don’t provoke the same sort of curiosity for you personally. Consider a list of about 3-5 questions that reflect what you value and what you are looking for in a therapist, and don’t hesitate to follow up conversationally with new questions while you are on the phone.

To end the conversation, your new potential therapist might ask if you would like to schedule your first session—if you need a moment to think through how the conversation with them went and don’t feel ready to commit to an appointment just yet, let the therapist know that you would like to take some time to process and would like to follow up via email.

To schedule a free fifteen minute phone consultation with me, head over to the contact page to request a call!