Questions to Ask a Therapist During the Free Consultation
You’ve done your research and narrowed down your list of potential therapists in the Bay Area to contact. Most of them specialize in therapy for anxiety and seem to have a warm and non-judgmental approach among other characteristics you’re looking for in a therapist. Most of them offer free consultations and you’ve already scheduled a few. In my previous post, I mentioned that during the free consultation is a time when you can ask questions and start to get a sense of how you might connect with the therapist. But how do you do that?
Questions to ask a therapist in Los Gatos
Here are some questions you can ask therapists during your free consultations.
About the therapist:
What do you enjoy about being a therapist?
What’s your experience with the challenges I’m facing?
How do you spend your time outside of the office?
What’s your idea of self care?
Who wouldn’t be a good fit for you and the work you do?
About therapy:
How long does therapy last?
Are you seeing clients in-person, online, or both?
When do you meet your clients and what’s your availability?
How much does therapy cost and do you take insurance?
How do I know if therapy is working for me?
About sessions:
What can I expect during our first session?
How long are sessions and what does a typical session look like?
Do you give homework or things to do outside of sessions?
Do you tell other people about what I say in therapy?
Can I tell other people about what we talk about in session?
Remember, this is just a starting point. If at any point you have more questions you want to ask before making a decision please do! The relationship between you and your therapist is one of the most important factors that contributes to your satisfaction with therapy. Just like in real life, you’re not going to get along with everyone, and that’s true for therapists too. Not all therapists are going to be a good fit for you, and that’s OK. Your search may take some time and effort but once you find one that feels right for you you’ll know it was worth it.
Still not sure about which therapist is going to be a good fit? I’m happy to hear about what you’re going through so that I can help get you the support you need. I want to help you make an informed decision about therapy. Call me at (408) 884-6328, send me a message or click below to schedule your free 15-minute phone consultation as “a new client” and fine a time that works for you.
Keywords: therapist in Los Gatos, therapist Bay Area, San Jose psychotherapy, asian therapist, BIPOC therapist, therapist for anxiety
