What to Expect During a Consultation Call for Couples Counseling
Many couples therapists in Rhode Island nowadays are offering a consultation call before you book your first couples counseling session. This is beneficial for both you and the therapist, so you can make sure you’re a good fit for each other. Feeling out the therapist before you commit to a session can save you a lot of time and energy.
But you might be wondering, What should I ask in the consultation? What will the therapist ask me? Every consultation will be a little different, but here are some topics that are likely to come up.
What You Hope to Get Out of Couples Counseling
The couples therapist might start off by asking you to give a brief explanation of the problem you’re having and what you want to see change. Try to summarize your main points without going too deep before you decide if the therapist is the right fit for you.
The couples counselor is also likely to ask you questions about how you and your partner fight in order to assess for domestic violence. They might also ask if you’ve been in couples counseling before, what you’ve already tried to help the situation, and what you’re looking for in a couples therapist.
If the therapist thinks they have the expertise to help you, then the consultation will proceed. If not, they may be able to point you toward other therapists who do specialize in the area you need help with.
The Couples Therapist’s Process
Even if the therapist thinks they have the expertise, you also have to decide that they’re the right person for you. Take the time to ask a few questions to feel out their personality and style. Ask anything you’d like! Here are some questions to get you rolling: What’s your experience in working with clients who have concerns similar to mine? What’s your approach to therapy? How frequently, and for how long, do you typically see clients? How do you assess the progress of treatment?
The couples therapist might tell you that part of their process is to hear from both partners during the consultation. Right off the bat, this helps the therapist understand each partner’s point of view. If your partner is available, you could do the call together. Or, the therapist might ask you for your partner’s contact information to schedule a talk.
Financial Matters
It’s important that you feel comfortable with the financial aspect of therapy before you begin. If the therapist hasn’t mentioned it yet or you couldn’t find it on their website, ask what their fee is. Then, the therapist will likely ask how you’d like to pay for sessions, whether it’s out of pocket (“out-of-network”) or using your health insurance (“in-network”). You can certainly ask the therapist about the pros, cons, and logistics of each method. Go here to read a post I wrote about the benefits of seeing an out-of-network couples therapist.
If you know you want to use your health insurance, the therapist might ask what type of plan you have. Not every therapist is on every plan, and not every type of problem is covered by health insurance. It can be helpful to do a little research on your coverage before you start scheduling consultations. I suggest calling the number on the back of your card to ask about your coverage for mental health, if you have out-of-network benefits, and how much your deductible is. I have a detailed list of questions to ask on my FAQS page.
Scheduling your Couples Counseling Sessions
If things feel like a good fit so far, hooray! It’s not easy to get this far when finding a couples therapist. Now you can move to scheduling your first session. I sincerely hope they have your ideal time slot available! But, because there is only one therapist and many clients - many of whom have similar ideal time slots - you might have to be flexible on scheduling.
At this point you can ask the therapist if you’ll have the same time slot every week, which can make scheduling more predictable for you. Also, one advantage of online counseling is greater flexibility in scheduling. You and your partner might not even have to be in the same room to meet with the therapist online - another good thing to ask about!
What Happens Before the First Counseling Session
Once your first session is in your calendar, make sure you know directions to the therapist’s office or how to access their online client portal. The therapist might also explain any paperwork they’d like you to review (such as consent forms and intake questionnaires) before you meet.
What if you don’t want to book with the couples counselor?
If something doesn’t feel right for you, it’s perfectly fine to let the therapist know that you want to continue your search. Or, maybe you just need more time to think about it. Finding the right couples therapist is very important and it’s not something you want to rush. You can ask the therapist how you should get in touch in the future if anything changes.
I hope this helps you on your path toward couples counseling! If you are still feeling stuck, click here to schedule a 15-minute phone consultation with me. I’d be happy to hear about what is happening in your relationship and offer ways that I can help you.
