Some Questions to Ask in an initial phone conversation...

• Is there a charge for the initial, get-acquainted session?

   

• Ask about age, gender, religion/spiritual belief system, sexual orientation, or ethnic group if any of these matter to you.

   

• Do you work with my specific kind of problems (depression, trauma, abuse, etc.)?

   

• Do you have special training in this area?

   

• What methods or techniques do you use in working with clients?

   

• Have you been in therapy? The therapist may or may not be willing to answer this question.

   

• How much do you charge? Do you have a sliding fee scale? Do you work with insurance claims?

Schedule a Get Acquainted Session...

If you feel comfortable with the phone conversation, schedule a visit to meet and talk with the therapist to find out more information and to see how you feel with the therapist. Connexus does not charge for this session. Things you might ask:

• What training qualifies you to practice? (Degrees, training programs, professional seminars, etc.)

   

• How much experience have you had?

   

• How do you work with clients and why do you work in those ways?

   

• Are you available for emergency phone calls and appointments?

   

• Do you set goals with your clients? If so, how do you go about setting goals?

   

• What do you believe about the outcome of therapy?

   

• Do you incorporate or support other healing methods (i.e. peer support groups, body work, music, art, yoga, 12-step programs, nutrition, etc.)?

   

• Do you use group therapy?

   

• How do you feel about medication and/or hospitalization?

   

• Do you see family reconciliation as a goal? Why or why not?

   

• What role do you think forgiveness plays in the healing/growth process?

   

• What do you think about touching clients?

   

• (For gay/lesbian, bi, and trans clients) Have you worked with many gays/lesbians, bi, or trans? Do you see sexual orientation as an issue in therapy or that it has anything to do with a history of sexual abuse?

 After reading this handout, make up your list of questions, adding your own, so you will be asking questions that are most important to you. Prioritize them and ask them in the get-acquainted session.