What should I expect from a phone consultation?
A phone consultation is typically a 10-15 min call for you to feel out each therapist to determine who’s the right match. It’s not an actual therapy session, rather your goal is to determine who you vibe best with.
Things you may want to share:
Begin with a very high level of why you are seeking therapy now (what’s your story?). If you’ve tried therapy in the past you may want to mention what worked well and what didn’t.
Some questions you may want to pick & choose from to ask the therapist:
It may be helpful to plan this before your call
How would you approach my story (or whatever you want to work on)?
What might a typical session look like with you? Do you typically lead the conversation or do you expect me to primarily lead?
What's your experience working with someone in a similar situation as mine?
What’s your approach to therapy in general? (ex. Do you see therapy as something people should do long-term or as something I could use to work on specific issues or for a period of time while I am struggling with xx etc?)
Therapist background and credentials
Why did you get into this field of work? (this shows their genuine interest and perhaps even their views on therapy)
Logistical questions: insurance coverage, co-pay, timing of sessions
How to end the call:
If you feel that there is an immediate fit while you’re on the phone call go ahead and book your first session! Otherwise, we recommend that you let the therapist know that you have a few more consults this week and that you’ll be in touch by email.
Finding the fit: reflect on the “vibe” after each phone consultation
It’s important to take 5 mins after each phone consultation to analyze how you felt about the
call.
What were your immediate feelings towards the therapist? Did you like their tone of voice? The way the conversation flowed? Did you feel comfortable? Did you like the questions they asked?
Many of Unmute's therapy seekers have told us it’s maybe most important to find someone you just feel comfortable and can be authentic with. Basically someone you feel who understands you, who listens, and who you want to chat to again - at your first therapy session.
How to let a therapist know you're not going to move forward with them:
It can be an uncomfortable feeling to let a therapist know that you're not going to move forward with them. That's why we made a template below that you can use in hopes that it's less work and less awkward for you. Feel free to edit and use the below email template to let a therapist know you're not going to move forward with them:
Dear Therapist,
Thanks so much for sharing about yourself and your practice the other day. I wanted to let you know that I have decided to move forward with another therapist. Thank you again for your time.
Best,
YOUR NAME