Start with your priorities
Think about the main concern you want help with, whether you prefer in-person or telehealth sessions, insurance or budget needs, schedule, location, and any preferences around treatment approach or provider characteristics.
Questions for an initial consultation
- What experience do you have with this concern?
- What approaches do you commonly use?
- How do you measure whether therapy is helping?
- What are your fees, insurance policies, and cancellation rules?
- How do you handle urgent situations between sessions?
Fit can take more than one conversation
A therapist can be well qualified and still not feel like the right match. It is reasonable to ask questions, discuss concerns about the process, or choose a different provider when the fit is not working.
Use the counselor directory to compare providers by specialty, approach, location, insurance, availability, and visit type.
Find a counselorAbout this guide: This page is educational and is not a diagnosis, treatment plan, or substitute for care from a qualified professional. If safety is an immediate concern, use the crisis resources on this site.