Phone Consultations for Therapists
Phone consultations can be a strange experience, especially when you’re first developing your practice. Not only are you trying to get to know a potential new client, but you’re also trying to communicate the nuts and bolts of your approach. Mix in a 15 minute window and it can easily trigger some understandable anxiety. Here are some quick tips to help approach phone consultations with a bit more ease.
Ground
In new or stressful experiences, it’s easy to lose track of yourself and your skills. Before picking up the phone to make The Call, check in with yourself without judgment. Do you notice any tension, anxiety, excitement, or urgency? Where is your energy and attention? Notice, and be open to what your body is telling you. Try to ground with a helpful breath, like box breathing or 4-7-8.
Welcome
Try starting with a warm opener to take the lead and to set the tone and pace of the session. It may help to note that 15 minutes is a REALLY short amount of time to get to know each other and acknowledge that you both can only do your best.
A few openers to try:
Thank you for taking the time to check in today
It’s nice to meet you, I’m here to tell you a bit about myself and learn a bit about you!
Let’s do the best we can today to get to know each other better, knowing that we only have 15 minutes
Give structure
There are typically three ways folks like to structure consultations:
Start with inviting the client to ask any questions they may have
Give a summary of your practice, your modalities, and your areas of expertise
Start with asking what motivated the client to look for a therapist and move into what kind of practice appeals to them.
Have an informal vibe check!
What way would feel best for you? One way to structure the consultation is by asking the client which would feel most comfortable for them. This can equalize the space and set a tone of collaboration that helps the client feel that they are, rightfully, a part of the process, instead of along for the ride.
Listen!
Ideally, once you begin the consultation, you’ll be listening more than speaking. Be curious and allow the client to share what’s important to them. As always, go where they go and meet them where they are in the process.
The Nitty-Gritty
For many, discussing fees and/or insurance can be tricky. Therapy does not happen in a vacuum and the financial reality of capitalism is always present. Be clear and be precise with what is financially and logistically expected of your clients. Make sure to not only be up front with the financial cost and accepted insurances, but be clear if there are any other important things to know, such as:
Are you virtual-only?
What is your cancellation policy?
What availability do you have in your schedule?
What is your policy on phone calls versus video appointments?
Not all of these questions may be useful for you, so make your own list of “need to know” facts for your prospective clients. Some folks prefer to begin sessions with this information and others prefer to wait until the end. You may consider asking the client which order would work best for them!
Checking In
While on the call, check in with yourself to see if you could be the right fit for the client. Be honest with yourself and where you are at in your practice. Do you offer what the potential client is looking for? If so, excellent. If not, also excellent. You can be a great therapist, but not a great therapist for everyone.
Afterwards, check in with yourself again. If the phone call didn’t feel, “right”—that’s okay! If it did feel good, notice what that felt like and what parts of it felt like a “win.” Congratulate yourself on a job done to the best of your abilities!