What to Ask in a First Therapy Consultation

You do not need to prepare a complete personal history. Try a short opening such as: “I’m looking for help because worries about how I look are taking up a lot of my day, and I want to understand whether your practice might be a fit.” Make it your own. It is fine to say you are unsure where to begin or that you would rather save details for a session.

The purpose of an introductory call is to decide whether a next conversation makes sense and to clarify basic logistics. It is not the same as a therapy intake, a clinical assessment, or a paid therapy session. You can keep the call focused and ask the clinician what information would be useful later.

A short call can disappear quickly, so begin with questions that help you decide fit and access. The National Institute of Mental Health recommends asking about credentials, specialty, approach, goals, progress, and confidentiality. For a brief consultation, these four questions cover the core decision without turning the call into an interview.

• Do you work with body image concerns like the ones I described?
• How might you approach this, and what would an early session involve?
• Can you see me where I will be located, and what formats are available?
• What are the fee, insurance options, and next step if we seem like a fit?

You might mention a recent situation: repeatedly checking your appearance before leaving, avoiding a photo or social plan, comparing yourself online, or feeling that food or exercise choices determine your worth. You are not expected to cover every concern. A single example helps the clinician understand what you mean by body image support and whether it is within their experience.

If eating or exercise concerns are part of the picture, say so briefly and ask whether that is within the clinician’s scope. You do not need to decide whether it meets criteria for an eating disorder. The provider can explain what they treat and when they recommend additional or different support.

A consultation can clarify the clinician’s general approach, service area, appointment format, availability, and fees. It cannot establish the whole treatment plan or predict how many sessions you will need. NIMH recommends discussing goals and progress with a therapist; those details are usually developed with more context than a short introductory call allows.

For Therapy With Donnie, the consultation is a free 15-minute phone call. It is not video and it is not the first paid therapy appointment. If you decide to continue, the practice will explain the next step and what to expect before the first individual session.

Ask whether the therapist can see you in your state, whether sessions are virtual or in person, how long they last, and how to connect. For telehealth, HHS recommends checking your device and internet connection and choosing a place where you can speak privately. You can ask what to do if technology fails or if privacy is difficult at home.

Confirm the fee and insurance process before scheduling ongoing sessions. Therapy With Donnie lists select New York plans, subject to verification, and a private-pay rate of $200 per 45-minute individual session. Vermont care is virtual and private pay. The published fee page does not list a sliding scale, so ask the practice directly if you need to discuss affordability.

You can thank the clinician and consider your options after the call. Notice whether your question was answered clearly, whether you felt pressured, and whether the practical arrangement could work. If you are uncertain, ask a follow-up question or compare another provider. A consultation is not a promise to begin therapy.

If you schedule a first paid session, that meeting is where the clinician can learn more about what is happening, discuss privacy and any relevant history, and begin deciding together what goals or next steps make sense. You can still ask questions and set a pace that feels manageable.