Questions to Ask a Therapist in Los Angeles During your Free Consultation

Living in Los Angeles is great because of all the options that are available -- and living in LA is challenging because of all the options. When it comes to finding a therapist that is a good fit, this is especially true. There are so many therapists!  

 Thank goodness most therapists offer free consultations to help you make the right choice. During the consultation, a good therapist will listen to you and evaluate your unique situation to determine if they think they can help you. 

After the consultation, take time to think about how it felt to talk to this new person. Meet with a couple of other therapists before you decide -- but sometimes you can tell right away when it is right. 

During a consultation, it’s easy to forget that what you are doing is interviewing the therapist. Once you get started talking about why you are searching for a therapist, it feels good to have someone listening and understanding you. It is tempting to use the consultation as therapy! So slow yourself down by asking the therapist some questions after summarizing your issues.  

I have compiled a list of questions to help keep you on track and get the information you need to assess if this therapist is the right one —

1.   What techniques do you use to help with my issue?
   Therapists are trained in specific modalities. Some focus on listening and responding to what the body is saying. Some are more thought based—some center on what happens between client and therapist within the relationship. Some modalities are brief and solution-based. Have the therapist explain why they believe their chosen modality will help with your issues. 

2.   What do you consider your specialty, and how does my issue fit within this?

    Just like attorneys narrow the types of cases they work with, therapists tend to niche their practice. They do this because they have experience with certain issues, and they want to do good work. The next question might be, “How did you come to specialize in this?”

3. How will you know that I am making progress?

   A good therapist will be assessing the goals for treatment as you progress. Goals are established in the initial phase of therapy — Ask the therapist how they evaluate progress.

4. What’s your policy if I need to talk to you because something urgent comes up between sessions?

   Things happen, and you might require some extra support between sessions. It’s good to know that the therapist has a policy for this.

5.  Do you know any other therapists that you think would work well with me?

   If it looks like you need to keep searching because either you or the therapist knows that you aren’t a good match, ask if they have ideas of another direction to point you in.

6.  Can I get reimbursed from my health insurance for our sessions?

   Some therapists are contracted with insurance companies to provide mental health services. If this is the case, the therapist bills your insurance for your sessions. The alternative is the therapist not contracted with your insurance company. In this case, a ‘superbill’, will be provided, which enables you to seek reimbursement from your insurance…in this situation, you will pay out-of-pocket directly to the therapist.

I hope this helps you understand the best use of your free consultation with a therapist in Los Angeles. If you are still feeling stuck, click HERE for a free 15-minute phone consultation. I’d be glad to hear about what is happening and help direct you to the right person. If you are a woman in Los Angeles looking for help with anxiety and your relationship with a narcissist, you can read more about how I can help here.