Deciding to see a therapist is a big step on your mental health journey—especially if it’s your first time exploring the therapeutic process.
As a mental health company, we know how challenging it can be to find the right therapist for your needs. This is why we’re making the process as simple as possible, by offering initial consultation calls with therapists, even before you commit to your first therapy session.
- Therapy consultation calls help determine if a therapist is the right fit for your needs
- These calls are free and can be done from home
- You can book multiple consultations to find the best match
- Expect to discuss your needs and ask questions about the therapist’s approach
- Feeling nervous before a consultation call is normal and can be openly shared with the therapist
What is a therapy consultation call?
Therapy consultation calls are free, short introductory meetings with a therapist that allow you to decide whether the therapist is the right fit for you, and if you’d like to work with them or not on your mental health needs.
Therapy consultations happen before your first therapy session, and are similar to an online therapy experience as they can be done from the comfort of your home. If you like how the call goes and you feel like the therapist is a good match, you can move ahead and book a session with that therapist.
What if I don’t feel like the therapist is a good match?
If after your consultation you’re not feeling the vibe and want to try out a different therapist, you can simply search for and book a consultation call with a different therapist.
We want you to find the best person for your needs. Sometimes it takes a few tries to find the right fit, and that’s totally normal.
Here are some more details on what to expect during your consultation call, how you can best prepare, and what next steps might look like.
Where are therapy consultation calls available?
While we are working hard to make consult calls available across the country, therapy consultation calls on Grow Therapy are currently available in the following states:
- California
- Florida
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Texas
Once you’ve used Grow Therapy to find a therapist in your area who takes your insurance (or accepts cash-pay if you don’t have an insurance plan), you can book a 15-min consultation call to make sure the fit is right.
What Should I Expect During a Consultation Call?
An initial consultation call is something you should do before your first session with a therapist, and is meant to offer you the space to gauge whether you want to work with them or not.
This is the time for you to get a feel for the therapist’s personality and process in order to decide if they’ll be a good fit in the long run.
The therapist will want to ask you questions to ensure they understand your needs and make sure they feel equipped to meet them.
Don’t be afraid to ask your own questions, as well, such as what the therapist’s treatment approaches look like and whether or not they assign homework.
The consultation call will also help you get a feel for whether you and the therapist will have a good rapport, which is one of the most important indicators of how you will get on later in your sessions.
This is where you’re the expert in deciding who’s best suited to help you.
Can I Have More Than One Consultation Call?
Yes! Finding a therapist who’s right for you can take time.
Don’t worry if the first one you meet with doesn’t feel like a fit. That’s what initial consultation calls are for.
In fact, we encourage you to meet with as many therapists as you need before your first appointment, in order to get it right in the long run.
Is it Normal to Feel Nervous Before a Consultation Call?
Being nervous is actually quite normal. It’s OK to feel that way, and it’s OK to let the therapist know.
Being honest opens you up, and the therapist will be able to better help you along the way.
Therapy is kind of like an adventure where at times you may feel emotionally uncomfortable, which can be scary. But it can be so wonderful at the same time because you’re going to get a chance to meet yourself as you never thought you could.
How Can I Find the Best Therapist if I’m Not Sure What I’m Looking For?
During your initial consultation call, be sure to write down the things you discuss and your reactions after the intro call.
Then come back to it in a day or two.
This will help you better evaluate how you felt during the call and decide whether or not you think they are the right type of therapist is the right one for you.
What Should I Do if the Therapist Isn’t the Right Fit?
Please know that you can always feel empowered to say, “This is not working for me.”
A therapist will NEVER take this personally and it speaks a lot to your inner strength.
Here is another script you can try during the consultation call:
“Thank you so much for your time. I really appreciate it. You gave me some questions to think about. Can I contact you about my decision?”
Then you can send a follow-up message explaining why it will not be a fit.
The next step is to book another consultation call with a different therapist who will hopefully be a better fit.
