Questions to Ask a Counselor in St. Charles, Missouri
If you are interested in counseling in St. Charles, Missouri or other parts of St. Louis, you might have some questions for the therapist to make sure you find the right one for you. You may be temped to ask them where they went to high school, or if they went to Lindenwood for grad school. However, there are more important things that you’ll need to know in order to find a therapist in St. Charles who can provide what you are needing in counseling. It can take some time to talk to different counselors and find a good fit, so here are a few informative questions to help you in this process.
What client issues do you work with most often?
This can help you get an idea of if the counselor can help you with your individual issues. Most therapists have experience working with a variety of issues but may have special training to work with specific areas of mental health, common struggles, or populations of people.
What approaches to therapy do you like to use?
Knowing how a therapist approaches therapy and what counseling techniques they use can be helpful in realizing if their style will work with your needs and if they can help you learn what you need to know to overcome your challenges. Many people are not familiar with the different types of therapy that therapists use, so it may help to do some research on this or ask the counselor more about how these techniques could benefit you. Sometimes therapists use multiple styles of therapy to best fit your needs and you may want to learn more about how this structures your counseling sessions.
What is a typical session like for your clients?
If you haven’t been to therapy before, you may want to know what the first session will be like and what to expect. If you have seen a counselor before, you might want to know how counseling with this therapist will be similar or different. Asking this question can also help you find out how long sessions last, if the sessions are held in an office, in-home, outside, or virtually which may be important based on your preferences. This can also help you decide if their personality or approach to therapy aligns with you.
How are sessions paid for?
It can be uncomfortable to talk about money, but this practical part of therapy services is helpful to know ahead of time so that therapy can be accessible to you. Some therapists take cash, some take credit cards, and come accept Health Savings Account cards for session payment. Many therapist do not take insurance for sessions to reduce constraints. However, some therapists may be contracted with your health insurance company and can send in claims for you so they get paid along with you paying a co-pay. Some therapists are out of network with your insurance provider, so you will need to pay the full rate, although many therapists can give you a specific receipt (called a superbill) that you can give to your insurance company to get fully or partially reimbursed for sessions. Each insurance company and individual plans people have can vary, so it is important for you to call your insurance company to understand your in-network and out-of-network mental health benefits. It is also important to ask about the therapist’s session rate to know if it is in your budget. If not, you may want to ask if they accept sliding scale or if they can refer you to a local clinic where they may be able to provide reduced-cost counseling services.
How long do you typically work with clients?
Nobody wants to be in therapy forever, but real change typically takes time. Therapy is an investment in yourself, so it is worth investing some time into it. You may want to know how much time to expect. This can help you with understanding affordability, how to schedule therapy into your life, and what to expect with making progress and feeling better. Some people think you only need to go to therapy for one or two sessions, and for some issues and some approaches that may be enough. For many issues and many therapy styles, clients come to therapy weekly (maybe every other week) for a few months to a few years. It is unrealistic for your therapist to tell you the exact length of time you will need, but they can give you an idea of how long other clients with similar issues have benefited from therapy with them.
Asking questions before you begin therapy with a counselor in St. Charles, Missouri or elsewhere can set you up for success. Emailing or scheduling a consultation call with a therapist can allow you to ask questions and get information to ensure you work with a therapist who is a good fit for your needs and personality. It can take time to locate a counselor who can be most helpful to you, but asking them questions ahead of time can get you to the right therapist faster.
If you are looking for a counselor in St. Charles, Missouri or anywhere in Missouri, reach out and I can help. I am taking new clients virtually so you can be located anywhere in Missouri, as well as anywhere in Texas or Indiana. Feel free to ask me questions, and if we decide I am not the best person for your counseling needs, I can guide you on where else to look. Contact me for a free 15 minute consultation call to ask questions about therapy with me at 520-430-CALM and for answers to commonly asked questions check out my FAQ page on my website www.calmcenteredcounseling.com/faq
