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Most remote psychotherapists offer a short courtesy consultation call before your first session. Normally, fifteen minutes is enough to learn if you are a match, upon asking the right questions. Here are eight questions to use as your gauge, during your 15-minute free consultation.
The licensing questions
1. “Are you licensed in the state where I live?”
A therapist can only see you if they hold a license in the state where you are physically located during your session. If you are in Florida, for example, the therapist needs a Florida license. If you split the year between two states, let your therapist know, to confirm if your therapist is dually licensed in both states that you reside in.
The Cost of Psychotherapy
2. “Are you in network for my specific plan?”
If your therapist is in network with your health insurance plan, your therapist will then ask for a copy of your insurance card. He or she will then have their staff verify with your insurance company, the exact cost of your session and whether there will be a copay for you to pay out of pocket or not.
3. “What is your self-pay rate? Do you offer a sliding scale?”
Many times, the costs for clients with insurance are different from the self-pay rate. The advantage of becoming a self-pay is that your information is not shared with a 3rd party, literally speaking, i.e., your insurance company.
4. “What is your cancellation policy?”
Most practices will charge you for late cancellations; however, the window of time to cancel your session, will vary from therapist to therapist. Therefore, knowing in advance, can help you to keep your appointments, unless a true emergency has come up.
Are We a Match?
5. “What do you believe would be the best approach to helping me to achieve my goals?”
It is very important, around this time, to share the reasons that you are seeking a psychotherapist. Try to provide your therapist with the heart of the matter, that has caused you to reach out for help. Your therapist will then spend a few minutes sharing with you, the best approach that he/she will use to help you to achieve your goals. Sometimes, it is just a feeling or an instinct, that you and your therapist have connected and/or are a match. Connecting with your therapist, is like connecting with any other professional, except this time, you are sharing very deep inner thoughts and feelings about your life. You will know after one or two sessions if you chose the right therapist for you.
6. “How will I know if the therapy is working?”
Therapy is not an overnight fix. It took you your whole life, to become the person that you are today. It can take years to unlearn certain precepts, or to change your ways of interacting with others, to learn how to think differently. Therapy takes a commitment and dedication, in addition to doing the homework assignments that your therapist provides to you, each week. Change takes time. You will generally know if the therapy is working when you find yourself looking forward to your sessions and feeling comfortable sharing your innermost thoughts and feelings with your therapist.
Practical Questions
7. “Which Platform Will We Be Meeting On? What happens if I cannot log in?”
Generally, therapists will use platforms such as Zoom, or any other HIPAA compliant video/audio platform. If you cannot log in, normally, you should be able to call or text your therapist on their cell phone, to advise of the same.
8. “What Happens if I am experiencing a Crisis Between Sessions?”
Every therapist has different rules and guidelines regarding how they handle an unexpected crisis between sessions. Most will advise that if it is extremely urgent, to go to your nearest emergency room. Others will call you back on a workday and after they finish speaking with their last client for the day. And still others, will refer you to a crisis hotline.