How to contact a counselor
I know that making that first call, writing that initial email, or sending that first text to a counselor is hard. People are often unsure what information to include and how much detail to go into in that first communication. Let me share what has worked well for my clients.
It’s a good idea to ask if a counselor is currently accepting new clients. My personal policy is to stop taking new clients when my schedule can no longer accommodate an additional weekly session. I never want to have that first session with a client and then ask a them to wait weeks before they can see me again. When I begin a therapeutic relationship with a client, I commit to being available to work with them regularly.
Including your general scheduling availability is helpful. No matter how much a client wants to work with me and vice versa, if our schedules are not aligned counseling is not going to work. Pacing in counseling is important, and maintaining progress means regular meetings. When it’s difficult to find appointment times, it can frustrate therapy and ultimately make it ineffective.
Providing a brief description of the reason for seeking counseling helps me determine if I am a good fit for you. An example of this could sound like: “my marriage is in a difficult place, and I need help to make it better” or “my marriage is in a difficult place, and we need help to make it better”. There is a one word difference that indicates first person is seeking individual counseling while the second person is seeking couples counseling.
Let me know how you heard about me. My best referral sources have always been my clients. It helps me understand more about who you are if I know how you are connected with a person who knows me. However, there are occasions where potential clients are too closely connected to me, so I am ethically obligated in those cases to refer them to another counselor. Having that information up front helps to prevent any awkward realizations in session.
It’s ok to ask for a follow up phone call if you have more questions. Sometimes clients want their counselor to have experience with specific issues and do not feel comfortable asking in the initial inquiry – no problem! Making sure your counselor can meet your needs is a good thing, and asking upfront questions to ensure a good therapeutic fit is helpful. I know I am not the right counselor for every client, and if we are able to determine quickly that another counselor would be better, I’m always happy to facilitate connecting clients to a person who can help.
There is no wrong way to ask for support. If you’ve been thinking about reaching out to a counselor, let this be the nudge to send that first message today.
