Guide
Questions to ask a therapist on a free consultation call.
Fifteen minutes goes quickly, so it helps to know what you want to find out before the call. With Erin L. Smith, MSPC, LPCC, LPC, the first step is a free 15-minute telehealth consultation, with nothing to sign and nothing owed. Below are the questions to ask a therapist on a free consultation that tend to matter most, plus what to have ready.
01Guide
What the call is for, and what it is not
The consultation is a conversation, not a therapy session. You describe what has been happening, as clearly or as roughly as you can manage. Erin explains how she works and answers practical questions about insurance and scheduling, and the two of you decide whether a first session makes sense. Nobody expects your full history, and it is not the moment to tell your whole story. Think of it as a chance to check the basics and get a feel for the person on the other side of the screen.
02Guide
Licensure: where you will be matters
Start with the question that settles everything else: is Erin licensed where you will be during sessions? Licenses are issued state by state, and what counts is the state you are physically in, not your hometown or the state on your insurance card. Erin is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in Kentucky and a Licensed Professional Counselor in Arizona and Minnesota. Kentucky sessions can be in person in Georgetown or by telehealth; Arizona and Minnesota sessions are telehealth only. Anywhere else, she cannot see you. That is a legal limit, not a verdict on fit.
03Guide
Questions to ask about cost and insurance
Money questions are fair game, so ask them directly. Does Erin take your plan? Three plans are in-network in all three of her states: Anthem BCBS, United Healthcare and UMR. Aetna, Humana and Medicare are in-network for Kentucky only. And the price? Standard psychotherapy runs 60 minutes at $150, billed to insurance where she is in-network, or paid directly if you are self-pay. Networks shift over time, so check your coverage with your insurer before a first session, including your copay or coinsurance, any deductible left, and how telehealth is covered.
04Guide
How Erin works, and whether ART fits
Ask how she works and which methods might suit what you are dealing with. Erin's style is strength-based, cognitive-behavioral and solution-focused, and she draws on CBT, DBT, ACT, EMDR, mindfulness-based practice and Accelerated Resolution Therapy, which she is certified in. She puts the relationship first and explains a method before using it. If one memory keeps replaying, ask whether ART is worth considering. Those sessions run about 100 minutes, and their cost is confirmed during the consultation itself. The point is not to choose a method on the call, only to hear how she thinks.
05Guide
How to tell if it feels like a fit
Fit is partly practical and partly a feeling. On the practical side, check whether the licensure, format and cost work for your situation. On the feeling side, notice whether you felt listened to, whether her explanations made sense, and whether you felt any pressure. A good consultation should leave you clearer, not cornered. You do not have to decide on the spot, and there is no obligation to book. And if Erin thinks someone else would be a better match for what you need, she will say so honestly, which is useful information too.
Have these ready
- The state you will be in for sessions
- Your insurance card, if you will use it
- A sentence or two about what is going on
- Your questions, written down
The call is by telehealth, so a quiet, private spot helps too.
Questions
Common questions
- How long is a free therapy consultation?
- With Erin, it is 15 minutes by telehealth, at no charge and with no obligation to book anything afterward. It is a short window, so lead with what matters most to you, such as licensure, insurance and cost.
- Do I need my insurance card for the consultation?
- It helps if you plan to use insurance. Erin can tell you whether she is in-network with your plan and help you work out what to ask your insurer. Benefits vary from plan to plan, so check yours directly before a first session.
- What if I am not sure therapy is what I need?
- That is a fine reason to book the call. You do not need a diagnosis or a polished explanation. Describe what has been happening, and Erin can tell you how she would approach it. The decision about next steps stays yours.
In Erin's words
What she would say if you called today.
Bring every question you have, including the awkward ones about cost or whether I take your plan. I will explain how I work and what I might use, and we will decide together whether to go further. If someone else would serve you better, I will tell you.
Free 15-minute consultation
Book a consultation with Erin
Fifteen minutes by telehealth, at no charge. You can describe what is going on, ask how Erin works, and decide afterward whether to book a first session. Scheduling opens in her secure SimplePractice portal.
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