questions to ask a psychologist, therapist, or counselor in missoula
If you’ve gotten to this blog, maybe you’ve found a few counselors in Missoula that you would like to contact. They talk about listening and understanding, helping you manage your anxiety, and they seem like nice, caring people. All of them offer a free consultation. What should you ask a counselor when you talk to them the first time? What should you say? How much is appropriate to share? Keep reading for some tips on navigating consultation calls.
Questions to ask a counselor in Missoula
It can make people feel really anxious to talk to a counselor for the first time. That makes complete sense. You are calling a stranger to talk about things that you might not have talked about with anyone else, or at least not your closest friends and family. The good news is you don’t have to spill your guts during this call, and it’s okay if you do. This is a chance to get to talk with a couple of different counselors to see how comfortable you feel interacting with them. Counselors are used to fielding these sorts of calls, so they will be ready to help you figure out what to tell them and what might be best saved for a first session.
Tell the counselor some details about the kinds of problems you want help with. You may be expanding on what you told them in your request for a consultation. Within a few minutes, the counselor will at least have an idea of whether your issues are something they have expertise in.
You might ask directly whether the counselor specializes in the kind of problem you are coming to them with, such as anxiety, trauma, depression, relationship issues, etc.
You can ask them what their approach to therapy is like:
You may want to know whether they use mindfulness, assign practice outside of sessions, practice coping skills in session, or do body-focused (somatic) work. These are just some ideas. Most counselors will provide an overview of how they like to work with clients.
It’s important to talk about cost and billing. Some counselors bill insurance and others don’t. If you’re using insurance, find out whether the counselors you talk with are preferred providers for your insurance plan. In some cases, if you think a therapist is a great fit for you and you can afford it, it may be worth paying out-of-pocket, or at least submitting claims to your out-of-network insurance plan.
Check in on scheduling to make sure you and the counselor have times that work for both of you. If you really click with one counselor and you don’t have availability when they do, they may be able to tell you when they expect new times to open up.
Finally, if you feel good about the counselor you’re speaking with, ask if you can schedule an intake session to go deeper into what you what you want to work on and how they might help you.
take the first step in your healing journey and schedule a consult with a counselor in missoula
You deserve support from someone who can help you make meaningful progress towards improved well-being. Counseling isn’t just for chatting weekly, it is about reaching your goals and making changes in your life. I hope this helps you find a counselor in Missoula who can help you reach your goals.
If you would like to talk further about counseling in Missoula with Anne, click on the button below to fill out a contact form.