Psychotherapy Consultations are a great place for you to dip your toe in the water of talking to a therapist. You can get a feel for who they are, see if you feel comfortable talking to them, and ask them more specific questions about their approach, experience and style.
Many psychotherapists now offer free 15-minute consultation calls because we know this process can feel overwhelming and intimidating. At Karkiu Psychotherapy, our Associates even offer virtual consultations so you can see the non-verbals as well!
It is by no means necessary for you to go to a consultation prepared – your therapist should also be able to guide you through it. But if you want to get your bearings, here are some things you might want to ask or consider.
For your inside thoughts:
- Does the therapist seem like they are really listening to you?
- Does the therapist seem like they care?
- Does it feel awkward, or does it feel natural? Also note here, that it may often feel awkward when you first meet anyone!
- Do you feel safe sharing why you are looking to start therapy?
For the therapist:
- What led you to becoming a therapist?
- How does therapy help people with the things I’m struggling with?
- How would our sessions go?
- How do I know if therapy is helping?
- What are your experiences working with the people who struggle with the things I’m struggling with?
- Can you explain the types of therapy techniques you use?
Remember that you don’t need to be the expert on psychotherapy techniques and theories – that’s the therapist’s job. You can ask about the therapist’s approach and they might throw jargon at you, but you might not really understand.
Some of the most important components to psychological healing are to feel safe, heard, seen, understood, loved and cared for. So ultimately, you need to figure out if this therapist could possibly give you those things!
Take the leap – book a psychotherapy consultation. Take a deep breath, and feel free to refer back to this blog. And if you completely crash out, that’s okay – the therapist that is right for you will catch you if you fall.