What is the purpose of a free consultation?

People come to counselling consultations for a variety of reasons. Some of these reasons may include:

1. It is their first experience with counselling and they have a lot of questions.
2. They would like to meet with the therapist first to make sure they are a good fit for them and that they are able to work within the clients level of comfort.
3. They want to see the therapist’s office and make sure it is a comfortable and calming environment for their therapy sessions.

What are some questions I could ask at my consultation?

1.What will the sessions look like?
2. What types of sessions do you offer?
3. What is your approach as a therapist? What methods/modalities do you use with your clients?
4. What happens if I don’t feel like we are a good fit? Are there other options?
5. Is everything kept confidential during the session?
6. How long have you been a counsellor?
7. What is your experience with _____________________?
8. What are your views on __________________________?
9. What do you do to take care of yourself so that you can be there for your clients and avoid burnout?
10. How often should I come for counselling?

Tips:

1.Understand the purpose of the appointment. A 15 minute consultation is not the same as a counselling session. Utilizing this time to ask questions that will determine if this therapist is a good fit for you is the way to get the most out of this time.
2. Arrive on time. Being late shaves valuable time off of your appointment and could make the consultation feel rushed/stressful.
3. Check in with yourself. Do you feel your questions are being answered and that you are being heard? Do you feel safe and at ease in the space with them?
4. If you have changed your mind, let the receptionist know and cancel the consultation. The therapist has limited spaces for consultations and they will be waiting around for you if you don’t show.