It's such a bummer when people tell me their counselor is not a good fit for them. Maybe it's the way their counselor speaks to them, their philosophies, or even the fact that their schedules don't align.
Whatever the reason, it's disheartening because it usually took someone A LOT of courage to even consider starting the therapeutic process.
Luckily, there are a ton of great ways to ensure you find a good therapeutic fit. Gathering referrals and evaluating a counselor's website are just a couple ways, but the one that will REALLY give you the best insight is the phone consultation. This blog covers how to make the most of this 15-20 minute conversation and offers questions for you to consider asking your potential counselor.
PS I always love it when potential clients tell me they're interviewing other therapists too, so make sure you schedule a few chats and pick the counselor that is best for you!
What is a phone consultation?
A phone consultation is an opportunity for you to gauge if a therapist is a good fit for you. As you share about yourself, the therapist will listen to evaluate if they can help you with your concerns. The phone consult is just a conversation and no counseling or coaching will take place. If a counselor doesn’t openly offer phone consults through their website, I’d encourage you to email them and ask for one.
How can you prepare?
I want you to feel empowered to ask any questions you have. Before your conversation, think about what you need or want to know. Anything and everything is on the table: questions about the counselor, their process, fees, cancellation policy, etc. It may feel a little uncomfortable to ask them about who they are and how they work, but counseling is different than other types of healthcare. That being said, it is completely normal to feel nervous about this conversation.
Sample questions to consider asking:
Who talks more? You or me?
Are you a confrontational therapist?
Do you give me homework?
Have you experienced my issue in your personal life?
Are you married?
Do you have kids?
Have you always been a therapist?
How long have you been in practice?
Are you from this city?
How often do I have to see you?
How much will it cost?
Do you accept my insurance?
Do I deal with my insurance or do you?
What’s your policy on canceling sessions?
What makes you qualified to treat my problem?
Do you specialize in my problem?
Have you helped many people like me?
What is the typical outcome of those cases?
Am I good fit? Why?
What are your strengths and limitations as a counselor?
What is your general philosophy and approach to helping? Are you more directive or more guiding?
Have you been in therapy yourself? How recently?
How often do you seek peer consultation?
What type of treatment styles will you use?
Will we talk about my family and relationship history?
How important is it for you to know about my past?
How will I know therapy is working?
Will I feel worse before I feel better?
What should you be thinking about during the conversation?
I’d encourage you to check-in with yourself during the phone consultation. How does the therapist make you feel? Do they seem like someone you can trust? Do you want to stay and talk to them, or are you counting down each passing minute?
I encourage you to think about these things while you’re chatting with the counselor because I want you to assess if they’re the right fit for you. Research has shown that over 50% of how much you’ll get out of the process has to do with how connected you feel to your counselor.
Looking for a counselor? You can schedule a free 20-minute phone consultation with me by click the button below. I’m all about transparency and helping you figure out if I’m the right fit for you. If you don’t find a time that works for you, feel free to email me at hello@tamaraclarkson.com.